Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Archaeologists in Germany say a uniquely shaped ceramic vessel discovered inside a castle was potentially used for much more than simple distillations. According to the Saxony State Office for Archaeology, the over 1.5-foot-tall jug’s origins are “presumably” tied to medieval alchemy. But before anyone conjures images of magical rituals, experts say it’s far more likely the container’s creators intended the vessel for more grounded research trying to turn dull metals into gold. Located in southern Saxony, Germany, Gnandstein Castle’s earliest iteration was built during the 13th century to overlook the Wyhra Valley. Generations of modifications eventually transformed the fortification into a manor, although many medieval architectural elements are still visible throughout the former residence. Gnandstein Castle received around a decade of renovations between …