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Ice Age mammoth tooth discovered on Suedlink construction site in Lauda-Königshofen!
In Lauda-Königshofen (Main-Tauber district), a 12,000-year-old mammoth tooth was discovered on the Suedlink construction site.
Ice Age mammoth tooth discovered on Suedlink construction site in Lauda-Königshofen!
As part of the construction work for the large-scale “Suedlink” project in Lauda-Königshofen, a remarkable find was made: a 1.20 meter long mammoth tooth from the Ice Age. The tooth, which is at least 12,000 years old, is the oldest known find on a “Suedlink” construction site in Germany. Archaeologist René Wollenweber from the Baden-Württemberg State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) described the find as one of the few Ice Age discoveries in the region and emphasized its importance for archaeological research (Stuttgarter News).
The mammoth tooth was uncovered by a specialized team of archaeologists using the appropriate tools, but has not yet been fully excavated. In addition to the tusk, the experts also discovered other bones and possibly parts of the mammoth's head. In order to prevent predatory excavations, the find is guarded by a security company. After the complete excavation, the tooth is packed up and further examined by experts (Tagesschau).
Archaeological significance and other finds
The discovery of the mammoth tooth is supplemented by additional finds from the Stone Age. Cooking areas and storage pits were also documented on the construction site. These finds show that the region was already populated in the past by people who took advantage of the conditions of the Ice Age. In addition, it is expected that the earthworks on the construction site will be completed by the end of the year despite these important discoveries (Stuttgarter News).
The Suedlink, an underground electricity highway, will transport wind power from the North Sea to southern Germany over around 700 kilometers. The project is scheduled to go into operation from 2028 and supply around ten million households with green electricity every year. The total costs amount to around ten billion euros. Originally, construction was supposed to be completed by the nuclear phase-out at the end of 2022, but there were changes to the construction process due to protests in Bavaria (Tagesschau).
The discovery of the mammoth tooth is not only an archaeological stroke of luck, but also an important part of the region's history. Finds like this are relatively rare, and they provide valuable insights into life tens of thousands of years ago. Furthermore, this find shows the need to always plan construction projects with an eye on the history and heritage of the region (Archaeology Online).