During restoration work on the territory of a parish Church in Landeck, Austria, researchers discovered traces of an ancient Church which, according to preliminary analysis, dates back to the 5th century.
It is usually not surprising when remains of older Churches are found under modern ones, explained the chief archaeologist Tamara Senfter. However, such an ancient Church is extremely rarely dug up in the Tyrol.
The necessity of restoration work on the territory of the parish of Landeck was caused by rains. “We have discovered five earlier Churches, the oldest of them had been built in early middle ages. We can restore nearly the whole design of this building,” relates Senfter. The researchers discovered ancient burials near the Church walls which are probably dated to the same period. A leather Cassock was found in one grave.
Another burial is, probably, a grave of Osvald Von Schrofenstein, who was the founder of a later Church. Together with human remains, besides traditional funeral objects, there were a sword and spurs in the grave. There is written evidence that the founder of this parish was buried on its territory.