'Sea of houses' vacated due to climate change, archaeologists say

Archaeologists digging at the site of a bronze age kingdom in northern Germany have uncovered remains of what they say was a surprisingly densely populated community of farmers and traders whose lives were upended by climate change.

- Deborah Cole

Traces of eight large houses have been laid bare in the sandy soil outside the village of Seddin, about 95 miles north-west of Berlin, near the spectacular "triple grave" of King Hinz, remembered as a kindly ruler, who was laid to rest, purportedly in a golden coffin, next to his wife and a loyal servant.

The discovery of their burial mound in 1899 prompted scientific research and increased tourism at the site, which have continued off and on in the ensuing years.

Over the last year, the archaeologist Immo Heske, teams from the University of Göttingen and the Brandenburg state office for historical preservation have found the outlines of an imposing king's meeting hall from about 900BC, believed to have been used for celebrations and trade fairs.