2,800-year-old bakery unearthed in Germany
Archaeological excavations at Burgbernheim, located in the Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim district of Bavaria, Germany, have uncovered evidence of early baking, dating back to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, around 800 BCE.
The discovery was made during an expansion project for a local bakery chain.
The Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation (BLfD) supervised the excavations, which revealed an unusually high concentration of pits filled with thermally altered stones.
Often referred to as cooking or roasting pits, these pits have been linked to food preparation, confirmed by paleobotanical studies.
The main find at the site was a grinding stone or millstone measuring approximately 26 x 34 cm.
Its smooth surface suggests it was used to grind wheat into flour.
The bottom of the stone is flat for stability, with rough edges, suggesting it was a well-used tool, the archaeological team said.