In the historic city of Freiburg, Germany, archaeologists have discovered a medieval toy shop dating back to the 14th century, Arkeonews reported.
Routine Construction Work Unearthed Medieval Toy Shop
The remarkable find was made during what was expected to be a normal construction job at the site of a future finance school in the historic university town. So far, the excavation at the Oberfinanzschule site has turned up medieval pottery kilns, pieces of an ancient street, and dozens of clay figures which researchers believe were, 700 years ago, popular children’s toys. The site covers about 4,000 square feet in an area called Neuburg, which was the site of the first medieval expansion in Freiburg circa 1240.
“Beneath the rubble of the 20th century, we found intact walking surfaces from the early 13th century,” said Bertram Jenisch of the State Office for Cultural Heritage. He added that the site was miraculously preserved despite the university’s hospital being destroyed by bombing during World War II. “This gives us a large-scale window into the carefully planned medieval suburb of Freiburg,” he added.
Pottery kilns dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries were unearthed, the first ever to be found in Freiburg. They produced all of the ceramic items which were used throughout the community during the Middle Ages. Most fascinating to scientists were a collection of 40 small clay figurines—women with headdresses, men in caps, horses, and mothers cradling children—which are “unmistably toys.”
Ancient Street with Other Shops Also Discovered
“One craftsman in the early 14th century seems to have specialized in producing clay toys,” Jenisch explained. “This discovery is a small sensation for Freiburg’s history.” Excavation leader Benjamin Hamm said that the toys offer an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of children in the Middle Ages. “They touch us because they represent play,” Hamm said. “It is moving to see that beyond war, plague, and religious strife, there was still space for childhood joy.”
The medieval street was found to be occupied by homes and workshops belonging to local artisans, such as tailors and cooks. They were strictly working-class dwellings, a far cry from the more upscale homes in Freiburg’s inner city. The street’s excavation is considered an unparalleled marvel, as most medieval streets have gradually decomposed and hold little historical value.
“The archaeological record clearly shows that the founding of the Neuburg was carried out in a highly organized manner,” Jensch concluded.
