Are you passionate about the exploration and preservation of underwater archaeology? In 2021, an international team of young archaeologists and scientific divers from five countries discovered the oldest known settlement in the Alpe-Adria region of Carinthia in Austria. This remarkable site, located at Kapuzinerinsel in the central part of Lake Wörthersee, is now the focus of ongoing archaeological investigations.

Scientific diver during excavation work.

During our pioneering small-scale excavation in autumn 2024, we uncovered evidence that the site belongs to some of the earliest settlements in the Alpe-Adria region of Carinthia. Spanning approximately 2 hectares, this complex, multi-phased prehistoric settlement provides a wealth of new insights into early human activity in the region. Within a small 21 m² excavation trench, we recovered numerous prehistoric artifacts and partially preserved architectural structures. The site has been linked to the Kanzianiberg-Lasinja culture and communities known for their pottery with furrowed incisions. Moreover, we uncovered waterlogged layers, wooden construction elements, and a dense field of wooden piles in the western part of the island, representing some of Austria’s oldest known wooden architectural remains.

Excavation of waterlogged features such as wooden piles offers an unique opportunity for research s they are a valuable source for high-resolution dendrochronological dating.

A Unique Archaeological Opportunity

This extraordinary site offers unparalleled research potential, contributing to a deeper understanding of prehistoric societies and their adaptation to aquatic landscapes over the past 6,000 years.

• Architectural and socio-cultural insights: The excavations have revealed a previously unknown Chalcolithic settlement, shedding light on prehistoric social structures and settlement organization in the 4th millennium BCE.

• High-resolution absolute dating potential: The site's well-preserved wooden structures offer an exceptional opportunity for precise dendrochronological dating, crucial for refining the chronological framework of early societies in Austria´s Alps.

• Transdisciplinary research potential: Thanks to its remarkable preservation, the site presents a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary studies, integrating environmental, material, and social perspectives.

A Missing Link in European Prehistory

Kapuzinerinsel is of pan-European significance, filling a crucial gap in our understanding of the connections between Alpine lake dwellings in Central circumalpine Europe and those in Southeastern Europe (the Balkans). As one of the least-explored prehistoric lakescape regions in Austria, this site holds extraordinary potential for groundbreaking discoveries.

However, our investigations have also revealed alarming levels of modern, human-induced erosion. Archaeological layers, artifacts, and architectural remains are exposed to hydrodynamic forces and, without further protective measures, are at risk of irreversible damage—even before the site has been fully investigated.

How You Can Help

To continue our research, document this invaluable heritage site, and develop strategies for its long-term protection, we urgently need financial support. Your contribution will directly help us safeguard and study one of Austria’s most significant prehistoric underwater sites.

A key aspect of our project is public engagement and training the next generation of archaeologists. Through our underwater archaeological fieldwork campaigns, we aim to bring together citizen scientists, students, and research experts, offering hands-on training in essential field methods—including site prospection, excavation, environmental sampling, artifact analysis, heritage protection, and public outreach.

We are currently preparing for our 2025 field season in autumn, but to make this possible, we urgently need funding. Rising costs and decreasing public budgets for archaeological research make external support more crucial than ever.

We hope you will consider making a donation to the Kapuzinerinsel Project for the upcoming 2025 field season. Your support will directly fund essential costs such as equipment, transportation, and student accommodations, enabling us to continue exploring and preserving this exceptional underwater heritage site.

Join Us in Protecting Our Shared History!

Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Together, we can uncover the past and protect it for future generations.

Our team and the archaeological site of Kapuzinerinsel in Lake Wörthersee.