A 1,500-year-old grave complex was uncovered in the Saxony-Anhalt state of Germany.

The elaborate burial complex, which includes animal sacrifices and valuable gold artifacts, appears to be the tomb of an ancient lord. In what archaeologists describe as a significant discovery in Germany’s history, a burial complex belonging to a high-status individual was unearthed in Saxony-Anhalt, near Brücken-Hackpfüffel. Dating back 1,500 years, the tomb features a unique arrangement: a cauldron at its center surrounded by the remains of six unidentified women.

The Daily Mail reports that the tomb likely belonged to a Germanic lord, evident from the design and contents of the complex. The extravagant tomb contains the remains of numerous animals, including cattle, dogs, and 11 horses, along with valuable gold and silver artifacts. Additionally, the tomb is surrounded by 40 to 60 other graves, indicating the importance of the individual for whom it was constructed.

Discovered accidentally during the construction of a chicken farm, the site’s biggest mystery is the placement of a bronze cauldron encircled by the graves of six female bodies. Although the remains of the primary figure have not been found, researchers speculate that the prince’s ashes may be inside the cauldron.

“We haven’t found the prince himself yet. But maybe his ashes are in the bronze cauldron,” said archaeologist Susanne Friederich from the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, the archaeological museum of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

While it’s too early to determine the exact purpose of the six women’s burial arrangement, researchers suggest they could have been concubines or devotees of the deceased lord. However, the cause of their death remains unknown, leaving open the possibility of involuntary sacrifice or voluntary self-sacrifice to accompany the lord in death.

Estimated to have been created between 480 AD and 530 AD, the burial site coincides with the fall of the Roman Empire, suggesting the influence of Germanic tribes in former Roman territories.

Remarkable artifacts uncovered at the site include intricately detailed vestment clasps, an iron sword and shield, and a gold coin featuring the Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno. Additionally, a small figurine believed to depict a Germanic god, possibly older than the tomb itself, was found.

The discovery of the tomb’s location in a natural hollow protected by layers of earth from potential looters has preserved its treasures over the centuries. As archaeologists continue their work, the exact location of the excavation site remains undisclosed to safeguard it from theft.