During preliminary work for the interior renovation of St. Mary's Church in Lübeck's Old Town, archaeologists made an unexpected discovery. Under the floor of the altar area, they uncovered the remains of a Romanesque basilica that had previously stood at the site, confirming previous architectural historical assumptions about its construction, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung.
At a depth of about one meter, experts found massive fieldstone foundations and remnants of a brick wall, including old foundations consisting of the former city walls of Lübeck. The foundations and wall date from the "boom phase" around 1200. The used bricks are remarkable not only for their impressive size and high-quality workmanship but also as an impressive testimony to the economic success and importance of Lübeck's merchants at that time.
"Even so-called 'Scharrierungen,' a stylistic element of early Romanesque brick architecture, could be proven—fine, handcrafted grooves that gave the bricks a special aesthetic note," reported Archaeologie Online.
"The particularly large and high-quality stones reflect the growing self-confidence of the merchants who wanted to leave a lasting impression with the construction of this magnificent church," said André Dubisch, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung. Dubisch also mentioned that archaeologists found remnants of the 1370s choir's flooring. "These were hexagonal tiles with which the entire choir area was probably paved," he added.
The construction of the impressive Romanesque brick basilica of St. Mary's Church began around the end of the 12th century, symbolizing Lübeck's economic upswing under Danish King Waldemar II. Typical for the region is the red brick, chosen as the building material for this monumental structure. The origins of St. Mary's Church can be traced back to a predecessor building from the 12th century.
St. Mary's Church became a model for many churches in the Baltic Sea region, thanks to the financial support of Lübeck's merchants, who built a church that would even surpass the famous Lübeck Cathedral in size. Referred to as the "Mother Church of Brick Gothic" in the region.
The church possesses the largest brick vault in the world, spanning the nave at a height of 38.5 meters. The two towers of St. Mary's Church reach a height of 125 meters. These architectural feats underline the significance of the church during the medieval period.
St. Mary's Church was heavily damaged during the Allied bombing raid on Lübeck on Palm Sunday in 1942. Many art treasures, including the "Dance of Death" by Bernt Notke, burned in the fire. Over the centuries, the church has been remodeled multiple times. According to the parish's website, the Romanesque basilica was replaced by the High Gothic basilica starting in 1251.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.