Niendorf is a long-known deserted settlement that has been the subject of many archaeological and archaeological finds and is located in the Ohreniederung just outside the town walls of Neuhaldensleben. It is closely linked to the history and early fate of the Neuhaldensleben population, as it provided refuge and a home during the years of exile following the destruction of the town in 1181 and its reconstruction in 1223. The existence of a St George's Chapel, a St Mary's Church, two water mills and more than 150 fireplaces have been recorded. Chronicles also report the destruction of a castle in 1167. Due to the favourable location in terms of transport and settlement topography, it is not surprising that people settled there in prehistoric times.
At the beginning of the 14th century, Niendorf is almost completely deserted and parts of the settlement area are also used for agriculture. Since the 18th century, numerous local historians have been researching this former settlement, of which only a short section of the rampart and ditch that existed until the Ohre was improved at the end of the 18th century has survived. A memorial stone, initiated by Otto Dieskau and erected in 1920 by the Allerverein with the support of Hans von Mackensen, then owner of the Althaldensleben monastery estate, and the town of Neuhaldensleben, still stands here today to commemorate the years of exile from 1181 to 1223. Since the last third of the 20th century, archaeological finds and ploughed-out building remains have supplemented the many surviving descriptions and findings on historical maps.
However, the actual archaeological development of the area only began with the "Haldensleben-Ost" development plan in the first post-reunification years around 1991. With the preparations for the construction and approval process for a new goods distribution centre for Otto Versand, a cross-cut was made across the entire deserted area and an exploratory excavation was carried out in 1992. In the years that followed, the Hermes Fulfilment GmbH distribution centre was expanded several times. This was accompanied by further extensive excavations by the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and Archaeology from 2009 to 2012 and in 2024. The latter was carried out under the local direction of archaeologist Dr Anja Tuschwitz.