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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Since January 2025, the tomb of Emperor Otto the Great in Magdeburg Cathedral has been the subject of extensive investigations. After the stone sarcophagus was opened in early March 2025, the work focused primarily on documenting and examining the simple wooden coffin found inside. The condition of the stone sarcophagus, which was in need of conservation, and especially the damage to the wooden coffin, made it necessary to open it to secure its contents. Therefore, in mid-June 2025, the wooden cover plate of the inner coffin was removed in order to secure and preserve the bones, textiles, and other materials contained within.
The tomb of Otto I in Magdeburg Cathedral – a monument at risk
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, beyond the borders of Saxony-Anhalt. Its care and preservation are a top priority for the cultural foundation Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt (KST) as the owner of Magdeburg Cathedral, the Evangelical Cathedral Congregation as the user of the church, and the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology (LDA) Saxony-Anhalt as the responsible monument authority.
As part of the regular joint monitoring by the Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt and the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, alarming damage was observed at the tomb of Otto the Great last year. Both institutions were therefore compelled to initiate conservation measures for this important monument.
The current status of the work and the results of the investigations into the burial place of Otto the Great were presented today at a joint press conference of the KST and the LDA in the presence of Saxony-Anhalt´s Prime Minister Dr. Reiner Haseloff and Minister of State and Minister for Culture Rainer Robra.
Prime Minister Dr. Reiner Haseloff stated: "The tomb of Otto the Great in Magdeburg Cathedral is of outstanding cultural and historical significance for Saxony-Anhalt. We are obligated to preserve this memorial site of German and European history for the future. I thank the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, the cultural foundation Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt, and all others contributing to the urgently needed conservation of the tomb."
Minister of State and Minister for Culture Rainer Robra emphasized: "Otto the Great made European history and left significant traces in 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."
Activities to date and investigation results I: Non-invasive preliminary investigations
Since January 2025, the tomb of Otto I in Magdeburg Cathedral has been enclosed in a closed enclosure made of wood-based panels, within which the complex work on the sarcophagus can be carried out optimally. All work will be carried out on site in Magdeburg; in particular, the emperor's remains will remain in the city on the Elbe River.
The initial measures involved the detailed graphic and photographic documentation of the tomb and the externally visible damage, as well as the creation of high-resolution 3D models. In addition, both the tomb itself and its surroundings were subjected to various non-invasive preliminary investigations in collaboration with specialized partners. These investigations served to provide a more detailed assessment of the threat to the burial site, as well as to evaluate the stability of the sarcophagus and its surroundings. Ground-penetrating radar surveys of the subsoil surrounding the tomb and of the sarcophagus itself were conducted.
In addition, the Institute for Diagnostics and Conservation of Monuments in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt (IDK) conducted density measurements on the sarcophagus and the cover plate using ultrasound. The IDK also confirmed the ingress of moisture into the sarcophagus and identified a related salt contamination that threatens the integrity of the sarcophagus. The examination of the iron parts presumably installed on the sarcophagus in the 19th century, in collaboration with Delta Sigma Analytics GmbH (Magdeburg), revealed that staples and nails are subject to progressive corrosion. The same applies to two iron wedges beneath the stone coffin, one of which was only recently discovered during preliminary investigations. All these factors, especially in conjunction with the considerable climatic fluctuations and the sometimes extreme humidity levels in the cathedral, poses a serious threat to the monument. Remedial action requires the removal of the iron parts and the temporary relocation or raising of the stone sarcophagus coffin. Furthermore, due to the significant external damage already evident to the stone coffin, it was assumed that the wooden coffin inside the sarcophagus and its contents were also at acute risk.
Activities to date and investigation results II: the wooden coffin inside the stone sarcophagus
In order to remedy the causes of damage, assess the condition of the wooden coffin inside the stone box, and design and implement customized stabilization and securing measures for the burial, the approximately 300-kilogram marble cover plate was removed from the sarcophagus under the strictest security precautions at the beginning of March 2025. Since then, for conservation reasons and to protect against contamination, entry into the enclosure has only been permitted under full protection and by a very small number of people.
A simple wooden coffin was discovered beneath the marble slab. Between this and the stone sarcophagus, a stone slab was placed at the head end and a wooden board on the northern side. This situation inside the stone sarcophagus was also documented in drawings and photographs, as well as recorded as a high-resolution 3D model. In addition, both the wooden coffin and the wooden board were scientifically examined. Wood species identification revealed that both are made of pine. The coffin itself is composed of several components: the footboard and headboard are placed on the floorboard, and the wall boards are attached to the sides. The lid, consisting of a sturdy board, was secured with a few wrought-iron nails. Several radiocarbon dates from various components allow for scientific dating of the coffin and show that it was constructed from woods of various ages from the High Middle Ages.
The coffin was most likely made when the remains of Otto the Great were reburied after the cathedral fire of 1207 and the subsequent reconstruction of the cathedral. Lever marks on the lid and sarcophagus wall indicate later openings of the wooden coffin. While the upper sections are well preserved, with damage only visible in places where air entered the interior through openings in the stone sarcophagus, the lower sections of the wooden case are already extensively decomposed, exposed to moisture rising from the subsoil.
The board inserted at the northern wall between the wooden box and the stone box is also from the High Middle Ages. Eddy current measurements on the nails used to fix it to the sarcophagus indicate the use of pre-modern iron. This construction is likely an older measure to prevent cracks that had already occurred in the Middle Ages. The stone slab inserted into the sarcophagus at the head end served in 1844 to stabilize the broken northwest corner of the sarcophagus.
Current condition after opening of the wooden coffin and next steps
After completing the documentation measures and preliminary investigations into the condition of the interior of the sarcophagus, the lid of the wooden coffin was also removed in mid-June 2025. This lid was attached to the coffin with three iron nails, which first had to be removed. The interior of the wooden coffin, as far as can be seen, contains a mixture of textile and plant remains, sediment, and bones. This condition is currently being documented in detail. In parallel, preparations for further analysis and preservation of the coffin contents are underway.
However, an initial visual examination has already yielded some preliminary results. Scattered throughout the coffin are the human remains of an elderly male individual with an above-average height for the Middle Ages. Future anthropological and bioarchaeological analyses are planned to provide information about his illnesses, lifestyle, and physical appearance, and ultimately whether the deceased is indeed Otto the Great. All necessary examinations of the human remains will be conducted on-site in Magdeburg.
Among the textiles, a red and a blue fabric with a diamond pattern stands out. Some of the fragments are very fragile and in dire need of preservation. Furthermore, the coffin contains egg shells. The inclusion of eggs is not uncommon in Christian graves of the Middle Ages, as the egg is considered a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.
Conservators and scientists, not only from the staff of the cooperation partners, are contributing to the preservation and exploration of the burial and the materials from the coffin, as well as to the investigations into their dating, use, and significance. Renowned external colleagues specializing in marble, limestone, mortar, iron, textiles, and wood are also involved in the project. In parallel, ongoing national and international networking with particularly qualified specialists is underway, including for the study of sediments, insects, and other organic relics.
In order to conserve the sarcophagus, its contents must be removed. In addition, the sarcophagus must be temporarily relocated to prepare the subsoil to prevent the rise of moisture and salts, as far as possible, and to ensure stable support. Various expert institutions and individuals are involved in this process. After the work is completed, the remains will be reinterred, which will require a new interior coffin. The design is being developed in collaboration with the Saxony-Anhalt Arts Foundation.
The Cooperation Project
All work on the tomb of Otto the Great is being carried out in cooperation with the cultural foundation Kulturstiftung Sachsen-Anhalt and the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, as well as in coordination with the Evangelical Cathedral Congregation 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. For example, both the choir stalls in the high choir and the 13th-century sculptures of Saint Maurice and Saint Catherine will remain on display. A text panel and a screen presentation on the enclosure of the tomb provide information about the reason for the installation and will be updated as significant new developments and findings arise. The public will continue to be informed about the progress of the work at appropriate intervals.
Background: The Tomb of Otto the Great in Magdeburg Cathedral
Otto I, the Great (born November 23, 912; died May 7, 973 in Memleben), a member of the Liudolfing dynasty, is a central figure in European history as the re-founder of the empire in Western and Central Europe, succeeding the ancient Roman Empire and the reign of Charlemagne. He was the driving force behind the elevation of Magdeburg to an archbishopric in 968, to which the city on the Elbe River owed its economic and cultural prosperity. After his death in 973, he was buried in Magdeburg Cathedral in the presence of Archbishops Adalbert of Magdeburg and Gero of Cologne, next to his wife Editha, who died in 946. Since the cathedral was rebuilt in the 13th century, the emperor's tomb has been located centrally in the inner choir of Magdeburg Cathedral.
The tomb of Otto the Great in Magdeburg Cathedral is a sarcophagus made of a monolithic block of limestone, coffered on all four sides. The cover is a reused antique marble slab. The tomb was opened in the 19th century, when it was repaired and structurally reinforced. In 1937, an openwork commemorative inscription made of cast metal was affixed to the marble slab. After 1945, a supporting metal structure was added to relieve the load on the cover slab, which projected widely along the long sides. However, this structure fulfilled its purpose only to a limited extent. Furthermore, the interventions of the 19th century contributed significantly to the threat to the tomb outlined above, which the measures described are intended to remedy.
The sarcophagus of Otto the Great after removal of the marble cover plate and with closed wooden cof ...
Source: Andrea Hörentrup
Copyright: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
A view of the interior of the wooden coffin. The remains of high-quality textiles are clearly visibl ...
Source: Andrea Hörentrup
Copyright: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
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English
The sarcophagus of Otto the Great after removal of the marble cover plate and with closed wooden cof ...
Source: Andrea Hörentrup
Copyright: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
A view of the interior of the wooden coffin. The remains of high-quality textiles are clearly visibl ...
Source: Andrea Hörentrup
Copyright: State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt
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