The excavation cellar at Janu

Archaeological sensation by coincidence

When Fritz Janu, owner of the sports shop on Seestraße, is installing a small boiler room in 1987, he stumbles across the remains of a wall. Janu, who has an active interest in the history of his home village, begins to wonder. He carefully has more dug up and soon brings not only walls but ceramic, glass and iron objects to light.

Experts brought in from the Landesmuseum in Linz confirm that these wall fragments are remnants of an old forge from the 19th century.

But that is only the beginning. In following years the entire area beneath Janu sports shop is systematically examined. Other significantly older wall remnants and artefacts dating back to the Early Iron Age are found. This is noteworthy since up until this point the only proof of a settlement at the time around Christ’s birth are finds on the mountains around Hallstatt, not in the village itself.

Today the excavation cellar below Janu is 300 m² large and offers its amazed visitors finds from early history to modern times. Viewing is possible during business hours and is free of charge.