600-year-old papal seals found in German latrine

Expatica ^ | July 15, 2005

[NYer]

GREIFSWALD, GERMANY - In one of the most sensational archaeological discoveries in Germany, four papal seals dating back 600 years have been uncovered from a medieval latrine shaft in the northeastern city of Greifswald, officials said Thursday.

The four round seals cast in lead date to the papacy of Pope Bonifatius IX (1389-1404). The 3.5-centimetre seals, each weighing some 50 grams, bear the inscription "BONIFATIUS VIIII" on one side and images of the apostles Peter and Paul on the other.

Regional archaeology office director Hauke Joens said the find - in the shaft of a latrine on the campus of Greifswald University - was "sensational".

He noted that over the years,

individual papal seals would occasionally be found in various places. But the Greifswald find was the first in which several papal seals were discovered.

The seals were first discovered last week by archaeologist Joerg Ansorge.

"When I turned up the first one, I was completely calm," Ansorge said. "But then when there was a second, a third and a fourth, my pulse rate shot up very high," the 40-year-old added.

The discovery came amid excavation work for new water pipelines on the university campus. The seals were buried in a wooden latrine shaft about 3 metres deep.

At this point, the archaeologists could only surmise that the four papal seals had perhaps been contained in a bag which was then given up for lost when it inadvertently fell into the latrine.

But another theory was that the seals were thieves' booty.

The excavation work is part of renovation going on to help Greifswald University prepare for its 550th anniversary celebrations in 2006. Officials doubt that the papal seals were in any way connected to the university's official founding in 1456.

[NYer]

The picture shows four 600-year-old official pope seals photographed in Greifswald, Germany, Thursday 14 July 2005. The seals were discovered during archeological excavations at the site of Greifswald University. According to the State Office for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments the discovery is 'sensational'. Despite intensive archeological excavations in the last decade in Germany only few comparable discoveries were made. The four seals have a diameter of 3,5 centimetres and weigh each about 50 gram. The seals stem from the pontificate of Pope Bonifatius IX., which reigned the Catholic Church from 1389 until 1404. This is underlined by the writings 'Bonifatius VIIII' on the front side. On the back sideare pictured apostles St. Petrus and St. Paul. EPA/Stefan Sauer

[wagglebee]

Incredible find!

[NYer]

Ping!

[wagglebee]

GGG Ping!

[kasparik]

What, no Korans were found?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Waggs and NYer. Not pingin' the list, just adding to the catalog.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
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[Mike Fieschko]

Thanks. From the article, I couldn't tell whether these were the devices used to make impressions in lead or wax, or the impressions themselves. This image shows that they items are the impressions, not the devices.

[Desdemona]

WOW!!!!

Archeologists dream of finds like this. Really cool.

[dangus]

It's a WAR CRIME! Invade GERMANY! Riot, Kill, Rape, Mame, Plunder! Oh, Nevermind!