Otto I’s heart may rest among ancient glass

Archaeologists in Germany recently examined the remains of Otto I, known as Otto the Great, in his tomb at Magdeburg Cathedral. The investigation confirmed the skeleton matched historical descriptions of the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Ottonian dynasty.

Harald Meller, the state archaeologist of Saxony-Anhalt, and historian Kai Michel detailed the process in a new book exploring the Ottonian period.

The researchers built on previous archaeological discoveries, like the Nebra Sky Disc and the Tollense battlefield, that reshaped understanding of earlier eras. While written records from the early Middle Ages are scarce, archaeological finds offer new insights, even challenging long-held beliefs about figures like Charlemagne. The team also re-examined remains previously identified as belonging to Heinrich I, Otto’s father, and determined they likely belonged to Anna von Tautenberg, a 16th-century prioress.

Further analysis of the teeth of Otto’s wife, Editha, revealed she travelled extensively as a child before settling in one location, corroborating her known biography. Researchers hope future technology will determine if fragments of ornate yellow glass found at the Memleben monastery contain Otto I’s heart, as partial burials were common practice at the time.

The book also illustrates the violent and unpredictable nature of politics during the Ottonian dynasty, suggesting the label "Ottonians" implies a consistency that did not exist in reality.