Dalheim's Women's Religious Community

During the excavation of a poorly documented religious community in Dalheim (Germany) -- emerging in the twelfth century but without any foundation charter until the thirteenth -- the skeleton of a woman (c. 11/12c) was uncovered. Later analysis of the remains of this individual -- burial designation B78 -- revealed dental calculus layered with lapis lazuli pigment, suggesting that B78 had engaged in high-level book painting during her lifetime.

The importance of this find has motivated renewed excavation at Dalheim under the auspices of LWL - Archäeologie für Westfalen (https://www.lwl-archaeologie.de/de/), led by Wolfram Essling-Wintzer and Peter Hessel. Ongoing excavations at the site, begun in the summer of 2024, have revealed critical evidence for the physical structure of the women's community, and particularly the cloister and women's residence. TeamNun is partnering LWL in the study of further human remains excavated at the site.

Osteological study of the earlier skeletal assemblage will also continue, thanks to further collaboration with Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Frank Rühli, director of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zürich where this important collection of human remains is kept. Our "flying squad" traveling team are planning a week-long residence in Zürich to study B78's post-cranial (her body below the skull) remains, and extend our analyses to several other individuals excavated from the Dalheim cemetery.