Medieval Child Found Buried with a Hard-Boiled Egg in Germany by Team of Archeologists

Erin Clack
·2 min read

The team discovered the gravesite — and the unusual item inside — back in 2014

<p>Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation</p> Archeologists in Germany found an ancient gravesite containing the skeletal remains of a young boy and a calcified egg

Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation

Archeologists in Germany found an ancient gravesite containing the skeletal remains of a young boy and a calcified egg

Researchers are trying to unearth the mystery surrounding a medieval child who was found buried with a hard-boiled egg.

Back in 2014, a team of archaeologists in Germany discovered the grave of a medieval boy in Erding in Bavaria, according to a March 27 news release from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, per the Miami Herald.

The skeletal remains were determined to belong to that of a young boy, who was about 5 years old at the time of his death. Leaving researchers puzzled, the calcified remains of a hard-boiled egg were found on top of the child's bones.

<p>Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation</p> The calcified remains of an egg found in the medieval grave

Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation

The calcified remains of an egg found in the medieval grave

The grave also contained a set of belts and weapons characteristic of the seventh century A.D., which means the site could be about 1,300 years old.

Related:  50 Graves Discovered Under Paris Bus Station Pre-Date French Capital

Officials said the egg likely had a symbolic significance for the boy's family, according to the Miami Herald.

<p>Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation</p> Skeletal remains of a young boy found in an ancient grave in Germany

Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation

Skeletal remains of a young boy found in an ancient grave in Germany

This is not the first ancient gravesite that has been unearthed with eggs inside. The food item has been found in Italian burial sites dating all the way back to the fifth century B.C.

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Two fertilized chicken eggs were discovered in female graves in a cemetery in Kukruse, Estonia, that date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, according to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Human Palaeoecology.

The authors of that study also suggested symbolic interpretations — "of both pagan and Christian religious worldviews."

Related: Archaeologists Discover Dog Remains More Than 8,400 Years Old Buried Next to Human in Sweden

Artificial eggs — in materials including clay and bronze — also have been found in ancient graves. The Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation said in its release that eggs hold different meanings, depending on the particular culture, per the Miami Herald.

For some, the egg symbolizes fertility and the circle of life. In the Christian faith, the egg represents Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, while in the Jewish religion, it symbolizes sacrifice and loss.

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