Archaeology Münstermaifeld, Rhineland-Palatinate

Archäologisches Museum Maifeld

Archaeological museum in the vaulted cellar of the old provost's house in Münstermaifeld with finds from a Frankish burial ground at the Stiftsplatz.

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About the museum

The occasion for the museum was an archaeological stroke of luck: in 2009 and 2010, the Rhineland-Palatinate State Archaeology (Koblenz office) uncovered around 550 graves of a Frankish cemetery in the forecourt of the collegiate church of Münstermaifeld. Many burials contained rich grave goods, which provide insight into the society, trade and burial customs of the Franks.

The museum is housed in the vaulted cellar of the old provost's house on Münsterplatz, whose upper floor is home to the Maifeld Tourist Information. The permanent exhibition “Wealth. Power. Salvation of the Soul” shows original finds on loan from the State Archaeology as well as faithful replicas, including weapons, jewellery, belt fittings, coins, ceramics and horse harness. Reconstructed graves with excavation tools left lying about and a multimedia station make the work of archaeologists easy to follow.

In addition, the exhibition places the Frankish period within the long settlement history of the Maifeld – from finds of the Palaeolithic and Bronze Age urnfields and Celtic burial mounds to the Roman villas. The installation was funded by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz and regional banks.

Highlights

Reconstructed graves as at the excavation in front of the collegiate church
Rich grave goods of Frankish men and women
Multimedia station on excavation, recovery and restoration
Settlement history of the Maifeld from the Stone Age to the Romans

Permanent exhibition

Reichtum. Macht. Seelenheil – The Franks in the Maifeld based on a burial ground with around 550 burials, set within the settlement of the region since the Stone Age.