An exhibition titled "Lost and Found" presents a treasure trove of objects found during the renovation of St. Mary's Church in Gardelegen, Germany from June 2022 to September 2023. Volunteers Ralf Schulze, Jürgen Bajerski, Reinhard Heller, and Horst Konietzko curated the exhibit to display some of the finds.
One of the standout finds at St. Mary's Church was a lead-bronze monkey figurine, representing a monkey holding a drinking horn or wind instrument. "During the late Middle Ages, monkeys were frequently portrayed as demonic figures or as satirical representations of human folly and vice," noted the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology (LDA).
In Christian medieval iconography, monkeys are often associated with human vices, particularly lust, laziness, and pride, and are frequently depicted in satirical scenes imitating human activities. While depictions of monkeys in churches are not uncommon, they often serve symbolic roles, engaging in board games, playing music, mimicking human behavior, or becoming entangled in vines and snares.
St. Mary's Church in Gardelegen, built around 1250, is an example of Gothic brick architecture that has preserved its medieval character through renovations and restorations following a fire in the late 14th century. Elements from different historical periods are woven into its design. The church features a spacious hall layout with five naves, tall arched ceilings, large stained-glass windows, and a distinctive square bell tower.
The renovation project aimed to install underfloor heating, leading to the excavation of a 145-square-meter section of the church's interior, digging to a depth of 40 centimeters. The excavation was supervised by volunteers from the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology (LDA). The excavation area at St. Mary's Church was slightly smaller than the average singles tennis court, which typically covers 2,808 square feet.
Among the discoveries at St. Mary's Church were over 1,000 artifacts dating from periods spanning seven centuries of history. These included 679 coins, pearls, personal items such as garment pins, tweezers, beads, and clothing needles, along with animal bones, ceramics, metal fittings, book clasps, glass shards, iron nails, and plant remains.
A portion of the 679 coins found at the site was scanned and cataloged by the SESAM project (Systematic Recording of Saxony-Anhalt Coins) and entered into the official coin database. The SESAM project seeks to digitize coin collections from ancient times to the end of the 19th century. "The recording of every single piece counts," states the SESAM project's website, according to Popular Mechanics. There were seven different coin systems in the region until the German Empire formed in 1871, and the Mark was introduced as the common currency in 1873.
Among the finds at St. Mary's Church were three dice, an unusual find for a church.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.