Archaeologists working in St. Mary’s Church (Marienkirche) in Gardelegen, Germany, have made an unexpected discovery: a small lead-bronze figurine of a monkey, buried beneath the medieval church for centuries. The find, made during restoration work in 2022 and 2023, has puzzled researchers, sparking debate over its original purpose and symbolism.
The 8-centimeter-tall monkey figure was uncovered in the church’s nave by volunteer archaeologist Ralf Schulze. It was promptly restored by specialists at the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt, revealing a detailed design that suggests the monkey is holding either a drinking horn or a musical instrument. While depictions of monkeys in medieval churches are not unheard of, their meanings vary widely—from symbols of sin and folly to representations of human behavior in satirical or moralistic contexts.
The excavation was part of a larger project to install underfloor heating in the Gothic hall church. More than 1,000 artifacts spanning seven centuries were recovered, including coins, jewelry, pottery, and even gaming dice—another unusual find within a religious setting.
Marienkirche in Gardelegen, built around 1200, evolved from a Romanesque structure into a grand Gothic hall church. A center of the Reformation, it endured disasters, including a tower collapse in 1658. Restored multiple times, it remains a key historical and architectural landmark.
Photo by J.-H. Janßen / Wikimedia Commons
The discovery highlights the rich and often surprising history hidden beneath medieval churches, offering fresh insights into the daily lives, beliefs, and artistic expressions of past centuries. While the true purpose of the monkey figurine remains a mystery, its presence in a sacred space raises intriguing questions about medieval religious art, humour, and symbolism.
Archaeologists working in St. Mary’s Church (Marienkirche) in Gardelegen, Germany, have made an unexpected discovery: a small lead-bronze figurine of a monkey, buried beneath the medieval church for centuries. The find, made during restoration work in 2022 and 2023, has puzzled researchers, sparking debate over its original purpose and symbolism.
The 8-centimeter-tall monkey figure was uncovered in the church’s nave by volunteer archaeologist Ralf Schulze. It was promptly restored by specialists at the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt, revealing a detailed design that suggests the monkey is holding either a drinking horn or a musical instrument. While depictions of monkeys in medieval churches are not unheard of, their meanings vary widely—from symbols of sin and folly to representations of human behavior in satirical or moralistic contexts.
The excavation was part of a larger project to install underfloor heating in the Gothic hall church. More than 1,000 artifacts spanning seven centuries were recovered, including coins, jewelry, pottery, and even gaming dice—another unusual find within a religious setting.
Marienkirche in Gardelegen, built around 1200, evolved from a Romanesque structure into a grand Gothic hall church. A center of the Reformation, it endured disasters, including a tower collapse in 1658. Restored multiple times, it remains a key historical and architectural landmark.
The discovery highlights the rich and often surprising history hidden beneath medieval churches, offering fresh insights into the daily lives, beliefs, and artistic expressions of past centuries. While the true purpose of the monkey figurine remains a mystery, its presence in a sacred space raises intriguing questions about medieval religious art, humour, and symbolism.
Top Image: This approximately 8-centimeter-tall lead-bronze figurine from Marienkirche in Gardelegen depicts a monkey in a frontal view. © State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Friederike Hertel
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