12th century stone relief found underground in a German home

A rare 12th-century stone carving with a unique pattern has been discovered beneath a house in the village of Klozov in northern Germany. The owner, Peter Wittenberg, was working on the foundations of his house when he discovered a large stone with a carving of a human figure with a cross on his belly. Only about 20 of these carvings are known, and this is only the sixth in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also the only stone carving with a cross found so far.

This granite stone is about 3 feet long, 2 feet wide and 1.3 feet deep. It is carved into a pointed arch and has a deep profile of a standing man. The cross is carved on a holy belt that was worn around the neck. The stone was found in a horizontal position, close to the wall of the house, with the image facing upwards. It was probably used as a step, but the house was built in the 18th century, so the stone is not in its original position.

It is believed that the stone reliefs were monuments built to commemorate the dead, although they do not mark graves. The presence of the cross links the stone to the period when Bishop Otto of Bamberg (c. 1060-1139) converted the Pomeranians to Christianity. It is even possible that Bishop Otto himself was depicted on the stone, and the stole is a stole, a vestment bestowed by the Pope on high-ranking clergy as a symbol of their authority. Otto received the stole in 1111.

Minister of Culture Bettina Martin: “With this extremely significant find, we are adding to the history of our country. Bishop Otto of Bamberg first travelled to Pomerania on a mission in 1124. It is extremely fortunate that a stone relief from this period has now been discovered exactly 900 years later. The discoverer deserves thanks and the highest recognition for reporting the discovery immediately. The experts of the State Office for the Preservation of Culture and Monuments and the subordinate monuments protection agencies will now be responsible for the protection and further examination of this unique find.”

The stone is currently being scanned to create a 3D model that will give a clear view of the carvings.