Medieval find - Curse plaque discovered on Rostock town hall construction site
Archaeologists have made a special find from the Middle Ages on the construction site for the extension of Rostock Town Hall. It is a rolled-up piece of lead metal that turned out to be a curse tablet. Excavation manager Jörg Ansorge spoke of a spectacular find on Tuesday.
When unrolled, the words "sathanas taleke belzebuk hinrik berith" were legible. It was about a woman called Taleke and a certain Hinrik (Heinrich), who obviously had to deal with the devils Satan, Beelzebub and Berith.
Curse tablets are actually known from ancient Greece and Rome, i.e. from the period between 800 BC and 600 AD, according to Ansorge. "Our discovery, on the other hand, can be dated to the 15th century. It really is a very special find." According to Ansorge, similar finds from the Middle Ages were unknown.
The tablet was discovered at the bottom of a latrine at the end of a plot of land. Even in ancient times, "curse tablets" were placed where they were difficult or impossible to find. During the construction work, two new buildings will be added to the Rostock town hall complex on Neuer Markt.
Press release
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- The archaeological discovery of the medieval curse tablet in Rostock is a significant addition to the history of curse tablets, as similar findings from the Middle Ages in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are relatively rare in Metal artifacts.
- During the construction of the new buildings on Neuer Markt for the extension of Rostock Town Hall, it's crucial to handle the designated construction site with care to prevent any potential damage to the ancient artifacts, such as the curse tablet, that may be hidden beneath the ground.
- To further understand the historical context and significance of the curse tablet, collaborating with local archaeologists and historians from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern would be beneficial to unveil more details about the woman named Taleke, her connection with Hinrik, and the role of devils in the society during the 15th century.
Source: www.stern.de
