{"id":3753,"date":"2025-06-10T22:46:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T20:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/?page_id=3753"},"modified":"2025-08-17T20:15:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T18:15:09","slug":"ausgrabung","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/ausgrabung\/","title":{"rendered":"Excavation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Excavation in the former synagoge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally: After the members of Muehlhausen\u2019s Builder\u2019s Yard have removed parts of the concrete floor, the excavation in the former synagogue Muehlhausen can start! First, the excavation is carried out by students of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt under the direction of Britta Ziegler, archaeologist at the Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology<\/a> at the University of Bamberg. The project is supported by the program denkmal-aktiv<\/a> of Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since the 28th of July 2025, the excavation is continued by students from the Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology<\/a> at the University of Bamberg, again under the supervision of Britta Ziegler.<\/p>\n

Here<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>are the news regarding the excavation of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt.
\n<\/span>Here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>are the news regarding the excavation of the University of Bamberg.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The ground level before the excavation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a>Excavation by Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 1\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

10th June 2025: Today the excavation in the former synagogue has started. The first tasks for the students: Cleaning the planum to uncover the borders of the archaeological features. One of the first evidences: At least parts of the stone floor seem to be preserved beneath the concrete floor.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cleaning the first planum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

11th June 2025<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The state of excavation after day 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today the planum was measured by means of a tachymeter:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Measuring the first planum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After this, Britta Ziegler gave the students of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt instructions for the excavation of the first layers:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Instructions for the excavation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Starting to dig.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For that purpose the stone floor had to be removed and stored in a corner of the building carefully:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The stone slabs in the corner of the prayer room.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In front of the former synagogue, the students sieved the excavated material and scanned it for archaeological finds such as pottery fragments:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sieving the excavated material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 3<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

12th June 2025<\/p>\n

The third day of the excavation was very busy. Under the direction of Dr. Wieke de Neef, the Archaeological Prospecting Department<\/a> (University of Bamberg) scanned a part of the ground in the prayer room as well as the ground in the small alley next to the building. With this method it is possible to visualize structures below the surface on a computer. We are already excited to see the results!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Scanning the ground of the prayer room.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Scanning the ground outside the synagogue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also present were Julia Krieger and Andrea May from Bezirk Mittelfranken<\/a> and Dr. Christoph Lobinger and Hans-Christoph Haas from BLfD<\/a>. Dr. Jochen Ramming from frankonzept<\/a> also examined the finds.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Many visitors on day 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the hustle and bustle, the excavations in the prayer room continued unperturbedly, and under the watchful eye of Britta Ziegler from AMANZ of the University of Bamberg<\/a> the students from Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt<\/a> continued to work in the excavation trench and at the sieving station \u2013 due to the sun today in the shadow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Digging in the trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sieving the material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

13th June 2025<\/p>\n

The last day of the workweek was a fairly quiet one. The students of the Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt<\/a> were again primarily occupied with digging and sieving. In addition, there was also time for a long ice cream break in the shadow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Digging in the trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Brining the material to the sieving station.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
A short break at the sieving station.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today was the last day of excavation for this group of students. Next week, the second group of the P-Seminar will continue the excavations under the direction of Britta Ziegler from the Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology<\/a> at the University of Bamberg. Thanks to the hardworking students of the first group for their great work during the Whitsun holidays! The result after four days: The floor level and the base of the Bimah from the first construction phase in 1755\/56 have been uncovered!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The state of excavation after the first week.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

16th June 2025<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The state of excavation after day 5.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New week, new team. In the second week of the excavation, the other half of the P-Seminar Urban Archaeology of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt is now active (due to illness today only in decimated number). Therefore, at first, Christian Pl\u00e4tzer, supervisor of the P-Seminar, and Britta Ziegler, scientific director of the excavation, had to instruct the students into the tasks of an archaeologist. Afterwards, the excavation inside the bima base could be continued.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Britta Ziegler explaining the features.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finds from the fill include pottery and glass shards, brick fragments, rusted nail fragments, and animal bones.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Bringing the excavated material to the sieving station.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sieving the material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Furthermore, excavation has begun in a second trench in the area of \u200b\u200bthe present-day barn door.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Start of excavation in the second trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 6<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

17th June 2025<\/p>\n

The sixth day was dedicated to filming, due to the fact that the Bayerischer Rundfunk<\/a> recorded the excavation. Accordingly, the archaeological activities were closely followed by a camera and a microphone today \u2013 whether while sieving, digging, taking photographs, or even pushing a wheelbarrow. The students from Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt as well as Christian Pl\u00e4tzer, supervisor of the P-Seminar, and Britta Ziegler from AMANZ<\/a> explained the archaeological finds and features.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Filming digging in the trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Filming sieving the material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Filming bringing the material to the sieving station.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Filming taking photos of the excavation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Interview with the students.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Interview with a student.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Interview with the teacher.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Save the date: The film will be shown on Wednesday, 18th<\/sup> June 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Frankenschau on BR (BR Television \u2013 North). Afterwards, it will be available on the ARD media centre for a limited time.<\/p>\n

Day 7<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

18th June 2025<\/p>\n

Today, the excavation was primarily carried out in the area directly behind the barn entrance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Digging in the second trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Digging in the second trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Digging in the second trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While two students of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt dug down layer by layer, adopting creative excavation positions, two student sieved the excavated material.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sieving the material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, Britta Ziegler from from AMANZ<\/a> drew the north section of the trench inside the prayer room.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Drawing the section.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The excavation was visited today by Ms. Binswanger, coordinator of the project \u201eNetzwerk j\u00fcdisches Leben & Erbe in Bayern<\/a>\u201c at the Bavarian Landesamt f\u00fcr Heimatpflege, and Mr. Huber on behalf of Dr. Spaenle<\/a>, the Bavarian State Government\u2019s Commissioner for Jewish Life and Against Anti-Semitism, for Remembrance Work and Historical Heritage. In the afternoon, the local newspapers Fr\u00e4nkischer Tag<\/a> and Nordbayerische Nachrichten<\/a> also visited the excavation. So keep an eye out for an article in the coming days!<\/p>\n

And for all those who have missed the report on BR today: You can find the report here<\/a> (in German).<\/p>\n

Day 8<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

20th June 2025<\/p>\n

On the final day of the excavation, the students from the P-Seminar of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt<\/a> were once again very busy. In the prayer room a cross-section was created, extending to the exterior wall. Being an experienced team, the students managed to excavate the whole section, to sieve the material and to uncover the floor dating from 1755\/56 in just one day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Discussing the findings and features.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The cross-section.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sieving the material.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The archaeologists\u2019 work also included measuring the floor level and photographing the findings.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Measuring the floor level (tacheometer).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Measuring the floor level (reflection mirror).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Taking photos of the trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the way<\/strong>: On Saturday, 28th<\/sup> June 2025, the students of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt are inviting everyone to an open excavation day at the former synagogue Muehlhausen (Middle Franconia). From 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. they will report about their activities and the excavation results to all interested persons.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>Excavation by the University of Bamberg<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Since 28th<\/sup> of July 2025, archaeological investigations of the former synagogue M\u00fchlhausen have been continued by students from the University of Bamberg under the supervision of Britta Ziegler from the institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology<\/a> of the University of Bamberg. The aim of the excavation is to gain knowledge of a possible predecessor building. With the active support of the M\u00fchlhausen building yard staff, several stone slabs that form the floor of the prayer hall from 1756 were removed. Thus, the archaeologists are now able to look back to the time before the building was constructed in 1756.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Left: Digging below the surface of 1756; right: preparing to measure the surface.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 13<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1st August 2025<\/p>\n

The third week of the excavation altogether and the first week of the excavation by the University of Bamberg has been completed. Thanks to the diligent work of the students from the Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology<\/a>, remains of walls were uncovered below the ground level of 1756. Did they belong to the presumed predecessor building?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The state of excavation after week 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, all findings were carefully documented. For this purpose, the sections and surfaces were cleaned, photographed, and drawn (on the photo below on the right side: the drawing frame with the drawn sections).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cleaning the feature.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
These sections have already been drawn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is remarkable that the lower layers are becoming increasingly moist. A small puddle of water has even formed in one excavation trench. This clearly illustrates why the floor of the synagogue had to be raised during the renovation work in 1833.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The small puddle of water in the trench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 15<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5th August 2025<\/p>\n

On the 15th day of the excavation, the presumably last bucket of excavated soil was carried out of the former synagogue. In the remaining days, the students of AMANZ will be busy documenting the remaining sections and plana. While Britta Ziegler, the scientific supervisor of the excavation, takes a photo of the last uncovered feature, the students have already begun drawing the sections.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dokumentation of the features: Fotography (right), preparing for drawing (left), drawing (in the middle).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite modern technology, the graphic documentation of the archaeological findings is necessary because the trained eye of archaeologists is better able to recognize layer boundaries, materials, discolorations, etc. By this, all special features of the findings can be recorded reliably in the documentation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Pepraring for drawing and drawing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Drawing the feature.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Drawing the feature.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 18<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

8th August 2025<\/p>\n

Today was the last day of the excavation. While two students from AMANZ are measuring the final points, the other students have nothing left to do and can watch.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
While two students are measuring the final points …<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
… the other students can already watch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many thanks to excavation engineer Britta Ziegler for her scientific supervision of the four-week archaeological excavation in the former synagogue! Many thanks also to the students from the University of Bamberg for their commitment! Due to their work, the remains of a previous building were discovered, which presumably represents the synagogue from the 17th century. This probably proves that the earlier synagogue was already situated on the same site where the still existing building was erected in 1756. Whether there will be another excavation campaign remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

\n

All photos \u00a9 Kristina Fleischmann<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Excavation in the former synagoge Finally: After the members of Muehlhausen\u2019s Builder\u2019s Yard have removed parts of the concrete floor, the excavation in the former synagogue Muehlhausen can start! First, the excavation is carried out by students of Gymnasium H\u00f6chstadt under the direction of Britta Ziegler, archaeologist at the Institute of Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Excavation”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3753","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["de","en"],"languages":{"de":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3753"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3906,"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3753\/revisions\/3906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/synagoge-muehlhausen.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}