Mysterious settlement discovered after residents seemingly packed up and vanished

Archaeologists recently uncovered the remains of a medieval village that was mysteriously abandoned in Germany — raising questions about why its residents packed up and left.

The excavation at the Am Frevelgraben site in Halberstadt, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, revealed numerous traces of a medieval settlement, including parts of a multi-tiered ditch system.

The State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt announced the findings on Aug. 24.

UNEXPECTED...