Tragic misfortune in Leimen: indictment after the death of an archaeology student

Tragic misfortune in Leimen: indictment after the death of an archaeology student

Leimen, Deutschland - A tragic misfortune occurred in Leimen in November 2023 when a 21-year-old archaeology student died in excavation work. The young man was part of a team that was supposed to secure historical artifacts from the Middle Ages as part of construction work. While he worked in a historic stone vaulted cellar, heavy stones detached from the ceiling and buried it. Immediate help came through the fire brigade and emergency services, but the attempts to resuscinate were unfortunately unsuccessful, and the student dial in the hospital the next morning. This reports, among other things, the Badische Zeitung, which deals with the tragedy and the circumstances of the accident.

The Heidelberg public prosecutor has now charged six people, including an architect and a site manager. These have to answer for negligent killing. The accused are accused of recognizing the dangers for the student when entering the basement and having not adequately secured, which led to this fateful misfortune. It is particularly explosive that the vaulted residues, which could collapse at any time, were unsecured before working in the vaulted basement. The accident occurred in the afternoon of November 27th.

Investigations and safety precautions

The investigation by the public prosecutor aims to determine whether huge negligent acts were made and whether the construction site would have had to be secured. One of the details is that the basement was about three meters deep and was excavated up to two weeks before the incident without adequate security measures being taken. These findings could also result in broader discussions about security standards on construction sites and the responsibility of archaeologists and construction managers.

The construction site was initially closed after the accident and only released for archaeological work in January. The fate of the deceased, an archaeology student from the Zollern-Alb district, affected not only the archaeological community, but also the entire region. While the neighbors and friends mourn the loss, the question remains open how such tragic incidents can be prevented in the future.

archaeological points of view and security standards

The German Society for Primary and Early History (DGUF) has also pointed out the need for security standards in archeology. When securing historical sites, the best security practices should always be taken into account in order to ensure the well -being of workers. The DGUF, which has been active since 1972, not only promotes the preservation of historical artifacts, but also works on sensitization to the challenges in archeology, in particular with regard to risks during excavations. Through publications and enlightenment, the company wants to help improve the security standards in this valuable discipline, as is also mentioned on its website.

For more information about this case and the current developments in archeology, visit the reporting on ZVW and Image and for a broader context in the discipline on dguf .