Berlin's Forgotten Half

Excavations Shed Light on History of Cölln


Centuries ago, a settlement named Cölln formed the core of what is now the German capital. However, it was subsequently subsumed by the growing city of Berlin and disappeared without a trace.

Spectacular finds are now helping archaeologists reconstruct the history of the village and its inhabitants.

What is today's sprawling metropolis of Berlin was once a virtually uninhabited, sandy area surrounded by bogs and impenetrable forests. Nevertheless, a margrave and a Slavic nobleman once crossed swords over this unattractive, rather uninviting patch of land.
There were few roads, but that didn't deter those tireless souls who settled in the region sandwiched between Teltow and Barnim more than 800 years ago.

Berlin's Forgotten Half: Excavations Shed Light on History of Cölln - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International