Archeologists in eastern Germany uncovered the remains of a mikvah dating back to the 13th century. The Jewish ritual bath was found in the cellar of a building located in Erfurt, the capital city of Thuringia, according to a report Thursday by the German news outlet Deutsche Welle. The two-story-high mikvah is in good condition, according to Sven Ostritz of the Thuringian state authority for historical protection and archeology. Though few German towns have evidence of Jewish life in the medieval ages, Erfurt also boasts the remains of a synagogue, which is being renovated. The city apparently is attempting to install a permanent exhibition on Jewish life within the region. “Tourists only visit cities where they are offered something unique,” Thuringia Jewish community head Wolfgang Nossen told Deutsche Welle.
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