The discovery came from a place no one expected to yield anything remarkable. During routine excavation work for an extension to Rostock’s town hall, archaeologists lifted an unassuming, tightly rolled strip of lead from the floor of an old latrine. Only after it was carefully unrolled did its significance become clear. The metal sheet carried a curse, written in faint Gothic script, naming two people and invoking demonic figures. According to excavation director Jörg Ansorge, it is a find without known parallel from the Middle Ages.
A curse hidden to do its work unseen
The lead tablet was discovered beneath a latrine at the edge of a former property on the Rostock town hall site, managed by KOE, the agency responsible for developing and maintaining municipal property for the city. In 2023, archaeologists were able to unroll the tablet and make out the inscription: “sathanas taleke belzebuk hinrik berith.” The wording names a woman called Taleke and a man named Hinrik, alongside references to Satan, Beelzebub and the demon Berith. The text is written in Gothic minuscule, not crudely scratched but carefully formed, suggesting an experienced hand. Dr Ansorge said the tablet was deliberately hidden, following a practice known from earlier periods. Curse tablets were typically placed where they would not be found, allowing the spell to operate without interference and without the knowledge of those targeted.
View of the town hall archaeological site in Rostock – photo courtesy KOE
Rostock, a historic port city in northeastern Germany on the Baltic Sea, is known for its medieval Hanseatic League past, striking Gothic architecture, including St. Mary’s Church with its astronomical clock, and a vibrant university. The city also features the seaside resort district of Warnemünde, famous for sandy beaches, and is a lively blend of maritime history, festivals, and modern recreation. Officials involved in the excavation have raised questions about the motivation behind the curse. They asked whether it reflected jealousy, unrequited love, or an attempt to destroy a relationship. No further identifying details about Taleke or Hinrik have been recovered.
Why the find is historically unusual
Curse tablets are well documented in the ancient Greek and Roman world, particularly between roughly 800 BC and 600 AD. They are commonly associated with temples, graves, wells and latrines. According to Dr Ansorge, however, no comparable examples from the 15th century were previously known. “Curse tablets are actually known from antiquity,” he said. “Our discovery, on the other hand, can be dated to the 15th century. This is truly a very special find.” The Rostock site itself has produced relatively few artefacts, but those recovered have been notable. Alongside the curse tablet, archaeologists uncovered Valencian lusterware from Spain, a remarkably well-preserved leather shoe, and bronze taps dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Dr Ansorge described the site as “poor in quantity, but top quality in results.”
The bronze taps – photo courtesy KOE
The find has been reported by CBS News, which noted that while curse tablets have appeared in other historical contexts worldwide, the Rostock tablet stands out for its medieval date and clear personal targeting. Archaeologists continue to analyse the tablet as part of the wider documentation of the site, but its message, written to be hidden and forgotten, has already resurfaced centuries later.
