Emily Chan
In 2021, archaeologists in Bavaria, Germany, discovered the grave of a wealthy man who died about 1,500 years ago.
Based on the grave goods he was buried with, he seemed to have been a warrior who took great care to maintain his physical appearance.
The man was around 40 to 50 years old when he died. He was laid to rest in luxury, with a horse, fine weapons, and toiletry items, including a pair of scissors and an elaborately carved ivory comb that may have been used to groom his hair and beard.
In addition, the archaeologists uncovered a second grave containing the remains of a woman who was between 30 and 40 years old at the time of her death.
She was buried with items that were just as rich and ornate, such as food, jewelry, and a red ceramic bowl from northern Africa, according to the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection. It is unclear how the artifacts arrived in Central Europe.
The graves were located in Nördlinger Ries, an ancient crater in southern Germany that measures 16 miles in diameter.
It was formed by a meteor strike and was identified in the 1960s. The subtle shape of the crater’s central depression was hidden by the surrounding landscape, so it was not easy to detect.
Both burials dated to the sixth century A.D. During that time, mostly Germanic Alemanni people lived in the region, and they were under the control of the Franks.
The grave goods may have been gifts from a ruler, or they were looted during battles in what is now Italy.
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