For the first time in centuries, the final resting place of Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great has been opened. Hidden beneath layers of stone, wood, and centuries of history inside Magdeburg Cathedral, conservators and archaeologists have uncovered a fragile wooden coffin containing human remains, richly coloured fabrics, and symbolic grave goods—including egg shells, a traditional medieval symbol of resurrection.
The discovery is part of an extensive investigation launched in early 2025 to preserve the tomb, which had shown alarming signs of deterioration. Now, after months of painstaking documentation and non-invasive study, experts have begun carefully examining the coffin’s contents—believed to be those of Otto himself, the 10th-century ruler who reshaped the political map of Europe.
At a press event marking this milestone, Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Dr. Reiner Haseloff called the tomb “a memorial site of German and European history,” and affirmed the state’s commitment to preserving its legacy.
The tomb of Otto I, situated in the inner choir of Magdeburg Cathedral, had long been recognised as a monument of exceptional historical value. Otto, who reigned from 936 to 973, was instrumental in reviving the imperial title in the West and laid the foundations for the Holy Roman Empire. His burial site is both a religious and political landmark, attracting scholars and visitors alike.
Yet recent inspections revealed the tomb was at risk. Moisture had infiltrated the stone sarcophagus, and salt contamination, combined with corroding iron components from past restoration attempts, threatened the structural integrity of the monument. The stone coffin itself showed extensive external damage, raising fears that the wooden coffin inside—and its contents—were in jeopardy.
Initial efforts focused on documenting the tomb through detailed photographs, drawings, and high-resolution 3D scans. Ground-penetrating radar was used to assess the subsoil and detect instability around the burial site. Ultrasound tests conducted by the Institute for Diagnostics and Conservation of Monuments (IDK) confirmed structural vulnerabilities in the sarcophagus and its marble cover, including dangerous levels of moisture.
Further tests, conducted in cooperation with Delta Sigma Analytics GmbH, revealed that 19th-century iron staples and wedges had deteriorated badly. One iron wedge—only discovered during the recent investigation—had worsened existing cracks in the sarcophagus. The fluctuating humidity inside the cathedral had accelerated this damage, creating a pressing need to act before irreversible decay set in.
In early March 2025, under strict security and conservation protocols, the 300-kilogram marble lid was removed from the sarcophagus. Inside, archaeologists found a simple wooden coffin made of pine boards, likely constructed during a reburial following the cathedral fire of 1207. The coffin rested atop a wooden board on one side and was braced by a stone slab at the head—evidence of previous attempts to stabilise the tomb over the centuries.
The wooden coffin, composed of multiple panels and sealed with wrought-iron nails, showed signs of having been opened in earlier periods. While the upper sections had survived relatively well, the lower parts had suffered significant rot from ground moisture.
In mid-June, the wooden lid was finally lifted. Inside was a fragile mix of bones, sediment, plant matter, and textile fragments. Conservators documented everything in meticulous detail and are now preparing for further scientific analysis of the contents.
Among the fabric remains are red and blue textiles with diamond patterns, some in extremely delicate condition. Also discovered were fragments of egg shells—symbols of Christ’s resurrection often included in medieval Christian burials. The skeletal remains belonged to an elderly male of above-average height for the period, supporting the identification of the body as Otto I. Further bioarchaeological studies will analyse his health, diet, and physical characteristics.
Due to the scale of damage, the sarcophagus must be temporarily relocated to stabilise the subsoil beneath it and prevent further salt and moisture intrusion. This process will allow experts to safely remove deteriorating iron components and improve structural supports.
Once the conservation work is complete, Otto’s remains will be reinterred in a newly designed interior coffin developed with input from the Saxony-Anhalt Arts Foundation. All human remains and burial goods will remain in Magdeburg throughout the project.
“Otto the Great made European history and left significant traces in Saxony-Anhalt,” said Rainer Robra, Minister of State and Minister for Culture in the State of Saxony-Anhalt. “In addition to the urgent need to protect his tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral from a conservation and monument preservation perspective, unique opportunities now exist to research it. I am pleased that the measures are being carried out with the utmost care and precision, including outreach efforts.”
Researchers from across Germany and abroad are involved in the conservation and analysis effort, including specialists in marble, limestone, mortar, textiles, wood, iron, and organic materials. Insect remains, sediment, and other microelements will also be studied, providing new insights into medieval funerary practices and the environmental history of the cathedral.
Despite the ongoing work, the cathedral remains open to the public. Key elements of the interior, including the 13th-century sculptures of Saint Maurice and Saint Catherine and the historic choir stalls, are still accessible. An updated display near the tomb enclosure provides information on the conservation project and its discoveries.
Otto I was buried in the cathedral in 973, beside his first wife Editha, under the watch of Archbishops Adalbert of Magdeburg and Gero of Cologne. The current tomb structure—composed of a monolithic limestone coffin with a reused antique marble cover—was modified in the 19th century and again after 1945. These alterations, while intended to protect the site, contributed to the damage now being addressed.
With conservation work now fully underway, the hope is that Otto’s tomb will be preserved not only as a site of imperial memory but as a source of historical and archaeological discovery for generations to come.
For the first time in centuries, the final resting place of Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great has been opened. Hidden beneath layers of stone, wood, and centuries of history inside Magdeburg Cathedral, conservators and archaeologists have uncovered a fragile wooden coffin containing human remains, richly coloured fabrics, and symbolic grave goods—including egg shells, a traditional medieval symbol of resurrection.
The discovery is part of an extensive investigation launched in early 2025 to preserve the tomb, which had shown alarming signs of deterioration. Now, after months of painstaking documentation and non-invasive study, experts have begun carefully examining the coffin’s contents—believed to be those of Otto himself, the 10th-century ruler who reshaped the political map of Europe.
At a press event marking this milestone, Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Dr. Reiner Haseloff called the tomb “a memorial site of German and European history,” and affirmed the state’s commitment to preserving its legacy.
Signs of Decay Spark Emergency Effort
The tomb of Otto I, situated in the inner choir of Magdeburg Cathedral, had long been recognised as a monument of exceptional historical value. Otto, who reigned from 936 to 973, was instrumental in reviving the imperial title in the West and laid the foundations for the Holy Roman Empire. His burial site is both a religious and political landmark, attracting scholars and visitors alike.
Yet recent inspections revealed the tomb was at risk. Moisture had infiltrated the stone sarcophagus, and salt contamination, combined with corroding iron components from past restoration attempts, threatened the structural integrity of the monument. The stone coffin itself showed extensive external damage, raising fears that the wooden coffin inside—and its contents—were in jeopardy.
In response, the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt and the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) launched a multi-phase project in January 2025. A protective enclosure was built around the tomb, allowing on-site conservation to proceed while preserving liturgical use and visitor access to much of the cathedral.
Non-Invasive Surveys Reveal Hidden Risks
Initial efforts focused on documenting the tomb through detailed photographs, drawings, and high-resolution 3D scans. Ground-penetrating radar was used to assess the subsoil and detect instability around the burial site. Ultrasound tests conducted by the Institute for Diagnostics and Conservation of Monuments (IDK) confirmed structural vulnerabilities in the sarcophagus and its marble cover, including dangerous levels of moisture.
Further tests, conducted in cooperation with Delta Sigma Analytics GmbH, revealed that 19th-century iron staples and wedges had deteriorated badly. One iron wedge—only discovered during the recent investigation—had worsened existing cracks in the sarcophagus. The fluctuating humidity inside the cathedral had accelerated this damage, creating a pressing need to act before irreversible decay set in.
A Rare Glimpse Inside the Sarcophagus
In early March 2025, under strict security and conservation protocols, the 300-kilogram marble lid was removed from the sarcophagus. Inside, archaeologists found a simple wooden coffin made of pine boards, likely constructed during a reburial following the cathedral fire of 1207. The coffin rested atop a wooden board on one side and was braced by a stone slab at the head—evidence of previous attempts to stabilise the tomb over the centuries.
The wooden coffin, composed of multiple panels and sealed with wrought-iron nails, showed signs of having been opened in earlier periods. While the upper sections had survived relatively well, the lower parts had suffered significant rot from ground moisture.
In mid-June, the wooden lid was finally lifted. Inside was a fragile mix of bones, sediment, plant matter, and textile fragments. Conservators documented everything in meticulous detail and are now preparing for further scientific analysis of the contents.
Among the fabric remains are red and blue textiles with diamond patterns, some in extremely delicate condition. Also discovered were fragments of egg shells—symbols of Christ’s resurrection often included in medieval Christian burials. The skeletal remains belonged to an elderly male of above-average height for the period, supporting the identification of the body as Otto I. Further bioarchaeological studies will analyse his health, diet, and physical characteristics.
Preserving the Tomb for the Future
Due to the scale of damage, the sarcophagus must be temporarily relocated to stabilise the subsoil beneath it and prevent further salt and moisture intrusion. This process will allow experts to safely remove deteriorating iron components and improve structural supports.
Once the conservation work is complete, Otto’s remains will be reinterred in a newly designed interior coffin developed with input from the Saxony-Anhalt Arts Foundation. All human remains and burial goods will remain in Magdeburg throughout the project.
“Otto the Great made European history and left significant traces in Saxony-Anhalt,” said Rainer Robra, Minister of State and Minister for Culture in the State of Saxony-Anhalt. “In addition to the urgent need to protect his tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral from a conservation and monument preservation perspective, unique opportunities now exist to research it. I am pleased that the measures are being carried out with the utmost care and precision, including outreach efforts.”
Researchers from across Germany and abroad are involved in the conservation and analysis effort, including specialists in marble, limestone, mortar, textiles, wood, iron, and organic materials. Insect remains, sediment, and other microelements will also be studied, providing new insights into medieval funerary practices and the environmental history of the cathedral.
A Site of Lasting Significance
Despite the ongoing work, the cathedral remains open to the public. Key elements of the interior, including the 13th-century sculptures of Saint Maurice and Saint Catherine and the historic choir stalls, are still accessible. An updated display near the tomb enclosure provides information on the conservation project and its discoveries.
Otto I was buried in the cathedral in 973, beside his first wife Editha, under the watch of Archbishops Adalbert of Magdeburg and Gero of Cologne. The current tomb structure—composed of a monolithic limestone coffin with a reused antique marble cover—was modified in the 19th century and again after 1945. These alterations, while intended to protect the site, contributed to the damage now being addressed.
With conservation work now fully underway, the hope is that Otto’s tomb will be preserved not only as a site of imperial memory but as a source of historical and archaeological discovery for generations to come.
Top Image: The sarcophagus of Otto the Great in the choir of Magdeburg Cathedral. © Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt, Christoph Jann.
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