10,500-year-old cremated human bone remains discovered in Germany

CAIRO – 25 October 2022: Archaeologists excavating a Stone Age camp site in northern Germany have discovered 10,500-year-old cremated human bones. 

These bones date back to the Middle Stone Age, making it the oldest human remains found so far in northern Germany.

Not only is this the oldest known human burial in northern Germany, it's also the first time that human remains from the Mesolithic period (between 5,000 and 15,000 years ago) have been found in the Schleswig-Holstein region, according to Ancient-Origins.

The site where the bones were discovered is only one of at least 20 campsites from the Mesolithic and Neolithic eras at Dauphine. It is located on the western shore of the prehistoric lake. Campers were used to roast hazelnuts and fish, both very important sources of nutrition for fishermen. Camps have increased in size over time, which may indicate a wider spread of hazelnut trees with climate change.