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Since January 2025, the tomb of Emperor Otto the Great in Magdeburg Cathedral has been in the focus of a comprehensive project to document and conserve this important monument. At the beginning of 2026, a multidisciplinary research group was formed to conduct a fundamental anthropological, medical, and scientific examination of the remains from the burial site. Of particular importance are the results from archaeogenetic analyses of the remains of Otto the Great (died 973) and Emperor Henry II (died 1024) from Bamberg Cathedral: They prove that the mortal remains from the tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral are, with near certainty, the remains of Emperor Otto I.
The emperor's body. Recent research confirms the identity of the mortal remains found in the sarcophagus of Otto the Great
Since January 2025, the tomb of Emperor Otto the Great in Magdeburg Cathedral has been in the focus of a comprehensive project to document and conserve this important monument. At the beginning of 2026, a multidisciplinary research group was formed to conduct a fundamental anthropological, medical, and scientific examination of the remains from the burial site. Of particular importance are the results from archaeogenetic analyses of the remains of Otto the Great (died 973) and Emperor Henry II (died 1024) from Bamberg Cathedral: They prove that the mortal remains from the tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral are, with near certainty, the remains of Emperor Otto I.
Saxony-Anhalt´s prime minister Sven Schulze was impressed by the research findings:
“Otto the Great made European history from Magdeburg. The fact that our researchers can now trace his footsteps using state-of-the-art methods demonstrates the strength of Saxony-Anhalt as a center of scientific excellence. We can be proud of this. As the state government, we are committed to ensuring that research and cultural heritage continue to enjoy the best possible conditions here.”
State Minister and Minister for Culture Rainer Robra, for his part, emphasized the ambitious nature of the project:
“Since its inception, this collaborative project between the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology and the Saxony-Anhalt Cultural Foundation, in coordination with the Evangelical Cathedral Parish and the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, has achieved remarkable results – and the research is far from over. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in this multidisciplinary network for their work.”
The tomb of Otto I in Magdeburg Cathedral – An endangered monument
Otto I, who laid the foundation for the later Holy Roman Empire by reviving the Roman Empire, is a central figure in European history. His tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral is therefore a monument of considerable cultural and historical value, extending far beyond the borders of Saxony-Anhalt. Its care and preservation are of the highest priority for the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (KST, Saxony-Anhalt Cultural Foundation), as owner of Magdeburg Cathedral, the Evangelical Cathedral Parish, as user of the church, and the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) Saxony-Anhalt, as the responsible heritage authority.
During the regular joint monitoring conducted by KST and LDA, alarming damage was observed on the tomb of Otto the Great in 2024. Both institutions have therefore collaboratively initiated measures for the conservation of this important monument.
Current Status of measures and investigations at Magdeburg Cathedral
In January 2025, the tomb of Otto I in Magdeburg Cathedral was enclosed within a protective structure, allowing the delicate work on the sarcophagus to be carried out under optimal conditions.
The initial phase of the project involved detailed graphic, photographic, and 3D documentation of the monument and its externally visible damage. In addition, various non-invasive investigations were conducted to assess the stability of the sarcophagus and its surroundings. These investigations confirmed the acute endangerment of the tomb, particularly due to iron components added in the 19th century, which are subject to progressive corrosion. Furthermore, the ingress of moisture and the associated salt contamination were identified as a threat to the integrity of the sarcophagus. Combined with the significant climatic fluctuations and sometimes extreme humidity levels within the cathedral, this solidified the overall picture of the monument's high degree of endangerment.
To counteract this threat and to restore the sarcophagus, it was necessary to lift the approximately 300-kilogram lid of the coffin, which, as renowned specialists in the field of ancient marble raw material sourcing have now been able to ascertain, is made of marble from Proconnesos, the present-day island of Marmara (Turkey) (see the press release by LDA and KST dated December 17, 2025). It was equally essential to remove the simple wooden coffin found beneath it, which was also in a highly precarious state of preservation. Prior to this, the wooden coffin and its interior were documented with drawings and photographs, and a high-resolution 3D model was created.
The identification and scientific dating of the wood revealed that the coffin was constructed from pine wood dating back to the High Middle Ages. According to dendrological analysis, the wood for the lid was felled in the winter of 1208 and processed immediately afterward. The making of the coffin is most likely connected with the reburial of Otto the Great's remains after the cathedral fire of 1207 and the subsequent reconstruction of the cathedral.
Inside the wooden coffin, textile and plant remains, sediment, and bones were found scattered about. From mid-June 2025 to early February 2026, the find situation was thoroughly documented, and the contents of the coffin were gradually removed.
Among the textiles, a red wrapping cloth made of Byzantine or Spanish silk and a blue-dyed blanket with silver threads stand out. Some of the fragments are very fragile and require extensive conservation. Also noteworthy are finds of eggshells and fruit pits, a 13th-century Moritz penny, and a piece of window glass, all of which attest to multiple, temporally separate alterations of the tomb.
After the contents were removed, the wooden coffin was also taken out of the sarcophagus. This revealed a carved cross and a drainage hole at the bottom of the stone trough, allowing for the first time a full assessment of the damage to the fragile sarcophagus walls. To conserve the stone trough and secure the ground at its location, it was necessary to relocate the sarcophagus within the cathedral, which took place in February 2026. While preparations for the sarcophagus's conservation are currently underway in another enclosure within the cathedral, archaeological documentation of the tomb's location has begun in the High Choir within the protective shelter. This documentation will serve as preparation for its re-erection.
Alongside the work at the cathedral, the project team further expanded its national and international network with representatives from various disciplines. These experts, with their respective knowledge of textiles, sediments, zoological and other organic relics, will work together with the conservators and scientists involved from the partner organizations to secure and comprehensively analyze the burial site.
The human remains will remain in Magdeburg and are scheduled to be reinterred in Magdeburg Cathedral on September 1, 2026, in a newly designed coffin, currently being created as the result of a competition initiated by the Kunststiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt Art Foundation).
The Emperor's Body? Initial Results of anthropological, medical, and scientific investigations
Given the significance of Otto the Great as a historical figure for the city of Magdeburg and beyond, the examination of the human skeleton from the wooden coffin and the question of whether it is indeed the mortal remains of the emperor, who died in 973, have been the focus of research in recent months. The initial anthropological examination was conducted by scientists of the LDA. In addition, a research group of renowned experts from various scientific and medical disciplines was formed in January of this year, whose members are addressing different specific aspects and questions. Special thanks are due to the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Magdeburg University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg A. ö. R.), where the computed tomography scans of the skeletal remains and the inaugural meeting of the research group, which convened in January of this year, were carried out.
Anthropological examinations concluded that the remains from the coffin of Otto the Great belonged to a single, clearly male individual whose skeleton is virtually complete and in excellent condition. At approximately 180 centimeters tall, the deceased was about 10 centimeters taller than the average contemporary of Otto in the 10th century. The individual's age at death, determined from the skeleton to be between 55 and 65 years, aligns well with historical accounts that Otto I died at the age of 60. Pronounced muscle attachments on the femur and pelvis indicate that the deceased regularly rode horses, which also corresponds with available biographical information about Otto the Great. Signs of osteoarthritis are particularly evident in the knee and hip joints. Ossification of cartilage tissue is also noticeable, including on the larynx and ribs. Traces of a healed fracture are visible on the left radius. Furthermore, the examination of the skull proved particularly revealing. Traces of healed trauma were found in the occipital and facial skeleton. Three upper incisors were missing from the jaw, having been lost during the patient's lifetime, possibly in connection with the other skull injuries. In addition, a carious tooth, periodontitis, and pronounced tartar buildup were found on the lower incisors. Unilaterally enlarged vascular canals were evident at the base of the skull and on the upper cervical vertebrae.
While the discussion of possible causes and effects of this peculiarity, as well as the investigation of the other observations outlined above by the members of the multidisciplinary research group based in Magdeburg, Halle (Saale), Hildesheim, and Saarbrücken, is still in its early stages, the scientific analyses of bone samples from the coffin of Otto I at the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie (Curt Engelhorn Center for Archaeometry, CEZA) in Mannheim are already providing some important initial insights.
On the one hand, radiocarbon dating yielded values that fall within the expected age range and thus correspond with the historical classification of the remains of Otto the Great. In addition, isotope analyses provided information about the deceased's dietary habits. The results suggest the frequent consumption of animal proteins and probably also freshwater fish. These were complemented by food crops common in Central Europe, primarily grains and legumes, although millet, which was widespread among poorer segments of the population, was apparently not consumed on a large scale. These eating habits are typical of elite personalities from Central Europe during the Middle Ages.
In summary, the mortal remains from the burial site of Otto the Great come from a tall man who died at the age of about 60, belonged to the medieval elite, often traveled on horseback, and, as the various signs of injury indicate, led an eventful life.
The emperor's body! Archaeogenetic investigations yield groundbreaking insights
While the aforementioned results of the anthropological, osteological, and scientific investigations already point to the identification of the skeleton from Otto the Great's tomb as the emperor's mortal remains, archaeogenetic investigations by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI EVA), Leipzig, provide a crucial, decisive piece of evidence.
This was made possible by the fact that the MPI EVA not only had samples from Otto the Great's burial, but also from mortal remains traditionally attributed to a close relative of the emperor. The Bamberg Cathedral's relic collection includes the skull and thigh bones of Henry II (973–1024), the last Ottonian ruler, who, along with his wife Kunigunde, is buried in Bamberg Cathedral and is the only medieval emperor to have been canonized. With the approval of the cathedral chapter and Archbishop Herwig Grössl, small samples were taken from these remains in early 2025 for DNA analysis, the results of which are now available.
They prove that all three bones attributed to Henry II in the Bamberg relic collection originate from a single individual. Of particular, decisive importance, however, is the fact that this individual and the individual from the coffin of Otto the Great are biologically closely related. They are connected by a third-degree genetic relationship, a connection through shared full siblings and traceable through an unbroken male line, meaning both individuals descend from a common ancestor in the male line.
This aligns perfectly with historical tradition, according to which Emperor Henry II, as the grandson of Otto's brother Duke Henry of Bavaria, was the great-nephew of the emperor buried in Magdeburg.
The archaeogenetic findings thus not only confirm the kinship between the two individuals examined, but also the authenticity and identity of the remains of Henry II and Otto I. It would be highly improbable to assume that the emperors' remains were exchanged in both Magdeburg and Bamberg, and that the remains of two other medieval individuals, related to each other through the third degree of paternal line, had been placed in the tombs. Rather, it can be concluded that the examined remains are indeed those of the two emperors, Otto I and Henry II. The identification of the individual buried in the imperial tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral as Otto I can therefore be considered confirmed. "With near certainty, we are therefore dealing with the actual mortal remains of Emperor Otto the Great," said Professor Dr. Harald Meller, Director of the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt.
Voices of the multidisciplinary research group investigating the mortal remains of Otto the Great
Dr. Mathias Becker, Senior Consultant and Head of Radiology at Magdeburg University Hospital, Center for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine:
"I consider it a unique opportunity and a great honor to participate in the investigation of Otto the Great. From a professional standpoint, the widening of the carotid canal at the base of the skull is particularly fascinating, as the search for the possible causes of this phenomenon directly touches upon questions about the emperor's state of health at the time of his death."
PD Dr. Oliver Großer, Senior Medical Physicist at Magdeburg University Hospital, Center for Radiology at the University Clinic for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine:
"Performing a computed tomography scan of Otto the Great's remains was something very special. I am delighted that we can contribute to the investigation of this historically significant figure for Magdeburg with the highly innovative equipment and expertise of the Magdeburg University Clinic for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine."
Prof. Dr. Dr. Walter Wohlgemuth, Director of the University Clinic and Polyclinic for Radiology, University Hospital Halle (Saale) (Radiology):
"The mortal remains from the sarcophagus of Otto the Great suggest a muscular man who rode extensively and was in good physical condition. However, when one considers computed tomography scans of the anatomy of the cerebral arteries of the deceased, clear indications of the possible cause of his death emerge, which align well with the historical accounts of Otto the Great's passing. This also supports the conclusion that these are indeed the remains of the emperor, whose cause of death we are now approaching using modern scientific methods."
Prof. Dr. Henning Madry, Director of the Chair of Experimental Orthopedics and Osteoarthritis Research and the Center for Experimental Orthopedics at Saarland University Hospital:
"The focus of further investigation into the osteoarthritic changes in Otto the Great's joints is, in particular, the question of the causes of osteoarthritis, not only in Otto's specific case, but also in general. This question has not yet been fully resolved in modern osteoarthritis research. Therefore, participation in the study of the emperor's remains promises not only to yield insights into this specific case, but also to make an important contribution to basic research in this field."
Prof. Dr. Stefan Flohr, University of Hildesheim, Institute of Biology and Chemistry, Department of Biology:
"As a bioarchaeologist, one rarely knows the identity of the person whose skeleton one is examining. The fact that this is such a significant figure makes the work all the more interesting. The focus of my analyses is the reconstruction of Otto the Great's state of health. The current state of the investigations suggests that, in addition to the stress-related changes to the skeleton, a systemic-pathological component could also be diagnosed. I am confident that, in collaboration with distinguished colleagues, I will be able to add some very 'human' aspects to the historical accounts of Otto the Great."
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Lessig, Director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Halle (Saale):
"The field of forensic medicine typically deals with determining causes of death and examining victims of violence. When bones are found, questions about the time of death and injuries are often paramount. Our involvement in the examination of Otto the Great's skeleton, particularly the injury patterns discernible from it, gives us the opportunity to apply our investigative methods and compare them with those of physical anthropology."
Prof. Dr. Dr. Frank Tavassol, Director of the University Clinic and Polyclinic for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg:
"The examination of Otto the Great's skull is highly interesting from a dental perspective. The extent of periodontitis, which has already led to bone loss, is particularly striking, whereas caries is present only in one wisdom tooth. The loss of the three upper incisors is presumably due to an injury sustained during his lifetime. The extent of tartar buildup is unusual, even though such findings are still encountered in patients today."
Dr. Ronny Friedrich, Managing Director of the Curt Engelhorn Center for Archaeometry, Mannheim:
"It is fascinating that today, using radiocarbon dating and modern isotope analysis, we can still glean so much information from the bones of a person who lived over a thousand years ago. C14 dating confirms the historical classification of the remains, while the isotope analyses provide insights into the diet and lifestyle of the deceased. It is a great scientific pleasure for us to be able to work with such extraordinary material – and we expect that further investigations will provide even more exciting insights into the world of the medieval elite."
Prof. Dr. Ernst Pernicka, founder of the Curt Engelhorn Centre for Archaeometry, Mannheim:
"The Curt Engelhorn Centre for Archaeometry has been closely associated with the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt since its founding, in a sense as a 'forensic laboratory of archaeology,' not least because of our joint research on the Nebra Sky Disc or the burial site of Queen Editha and a number of other finds. I am delighted that the Curt Engelhorn Center for Archaeometry, with its state-of-the-art laboratories and outstanding scientists, can also contribute to the research on the important burial of Otto I."
Harald Ringbauer, PhD, Research Group Head, Department of Archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig:
"The archaeogenetic investigations have yielded the unequivocal result that the bones in the Bamberg relic collection, traditionally identified as the remains of Henry II, and the mortal remains from the sarcophagus of Otto the Great, originate from close third-degree relatives connected through the paternal line. This is not only crucial for identifying these two individuals, but will also make it possible in the future to identify other members of the Medieval nobility related to the Ottonian dynasty."
Prof. Dr. Thomas Wozniak, Head of the Department of Medieval History and Historical Auxiliary Sciences at the Institute of History, University of Klagenfurt:
"Henry II was the last Ottonian ruler. His death in 1024 marked the end of the reign of this dynasty, which profoundly influenced the history of Europe. Henry II is also the founder and patron saint of the Diocese of Bamberg, where he is still venerated as a saint. The fact that it was possible to conduct DNA analysis on his remains with the permission of the Bamberg Cathedral Chapter and the Archbishop is a great boon for the scholarly study of the Ottonian period, as the findings presented today clearly demonstrate."
The collaborative project
All work on the tomb of Otto the Great is being carried out in cooperation between the KST and the LDA, as well as in coordination with the Evangelical Cathedral Parish and the Evangelical Church in Central Germany. The liturgical use of the church will not be affected. Restrictions for visitors to the cathedral will also be kept to a minimum. Thus, both the choir stalls in the High Choir and the 13th-century sculptures of Saint Maurice and Saint Catherine will remain visible. An information panel and a screen presentation at the tomb's enclosure explain the reason for the installation and will be updated as significant new developments and findings emerge. The public will continue to be informed about the progress of the work at appropriate intervals.
View inside the open wooden coffin containing the human remains of Otto I, textiles, and sediment.
Quelle: Andrea Hörentrup
Copyright: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
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