- 600,000 finds - excavations at the wheat market continue
Archaeologists continue to be busy at the Molkenmarkt site behind the Red City Hall in the heart of Berlin. They plan to continue their work there until the end of 2025, according to Christoph Rauhut, director of the State Heritage Office, who presented the initial results. Since the start of the excavation five years ago, around 600,000 artifacts have been recovered, offering insights into how Berliners lived in past centuries.
These include oven tiles, coins, drinking glasses, leather shoes, and clay pots used for cooking or food storage in the Middle Ages. One of the most unusual finds is the remains of a wooden path dating back to the first written mention of the city around 1230.
Archaeologists uncover traces of Berlin's younger history
The archaeologists have also discovered traces of Berlin's more recent history, such as parts of the terracotta frieze at the Red City Hall, which was destroyed during the final months of World War II. Many terracotta elements, including several figurative heads, ended up in the post-war rubble at the Molkenmarkt and have only been rediscovered decades later. The excavation of the power plant, which opened in 1889 and played a crucial role in Berlin's electrification, has also been completed.
The Molkenmarkt excavation is the largest of its kind within a city center in Germany. "Something new happens every week," said Rauhut. So far, the archaeologists have examined around 15,000 square meters of the site.
After the excavation is completed, the extensive evaluation of all the finds will continue. Some of them will be displayed in the future at the Archaeological House on Petriplatz. So-called "archaeological windows" will also provide a glimpse into the past at the Molkenmarkt. One of these is planned on the site of the former power plant. Regular guided tours to the archaeological finds already take place every Friday afternoon.
Excavation team uncovers wells and toilet facilities
Since spring, the excavation team has been working in the 6,500 square meter area under the old Grunerstraße. They have uncovered remains of house foundations, wells, and medieval toilet facilities. Rauhut finds these particularly interesting, as they contain a lot of waste that can tell us much about the time.
"The numerous finds give us a glimpse into the life of the old town quarters that existed until the 1930s," said Christian Gaebler, Senator for Urban Development and Housing. The planned redesign of the Molkenmarkt offered the opportunity to see what had been preserved in the ground. "Our goal is to make it experienceable again," said Gaebler, and to make the discovered objects speak to non-archaeologists, for example through the archaeological windows.
Berlin's history began nearby
Berlin's history began not far from the Molkenmarkt with a first medieval settlement on the Spree. The 18th-century layout of the square was destroyed in World War II. Large parts of the two-hectare site were filled in after the war, including the Grunerstraße between the town hall and the city palace.
The Senate has more plans for the Molkenmarkt: "With the revitalization of the Molkenmarkt, we also want to reclaim a piece of the city," said Gaebler. "We want to build a new urban quarter on old ground here." Among others, the state-owned housing companies WBM and Degewo are to build apartments here, but also private companies. Commercial use is also planned. Before construction begins, archaeologists have the opportunity to continue systematically investigating the ground.
The Commission overseeing the Molkenmarkt excavation has expressed interest in the terracotta frieze fragments discovered, as they hold historical significance. The Commission is also involved in discussions regarding the future use and development of the Molkenmarkt site, aiming to preserve its historical value while promoting modern urban development.
