The world's oldest pretzel has been discovered by archaeologists in Germany - and has lost none of its appeal despite being  baked 250 years ago. The popular snack was found at an excavation site in the eastern Bavarian city of Regensburg and experts believe it was thrown away in disappointment after being burnt to a crisp in the oven. The black pretzel was discovered alongside the charred remains of a bread roll and a croissant and it is thought that the food items have been preserved for so long because they were badly burnt by their 18th century baker. Lasting flavour: The world's oldest pretzel was discovered in the eastern Bavarian city of Regensburg . Silvia Codreanau-Windauer from the Bavarian Bureau for the Conservation of Historic Monuments told The Local: 'This is definitely the oldest pretzel ever found.' The mayor of Regensburg Joachim Wolbergs added. 'This discovery is really extraordinary, because it depicts a snippet of everyday life.' Pretzels are a traditional south German and Austrian delicacy and have been a favorite in Germany for centuries. In Bavaria, pretzels are often eaten for breakfast alongside weisswurst (white sausage) with sweet mustard. Also found: The charred remains of a bread roll were found near the pretzel and experts believe the baked goods have been preserved because they were burnt by an 18th century baker who then threw them away . Charred remains: The pretzel measures four inches and the mayor of Regensburg, where it was found, has called the discovery 'extraordinary' The earliest recorded evidence of pretzels comes from 1111 when they appear in the crest of German bakers' guilds in 1111. The snacks have long been integrated into the Christian faith. By the 16th century, it had become tradition to eat pretzels on Good Friday in Germany, and Catholics once considered them the official food of lent. Today, pretzels are most popular in the USA and Germany. Source: www.todayifoundout.com . Speaking to The Local, Ms Codreanu-Windauer added some historical context to the find, saying: 'The form of the pretzel is supposed to represent the crossed arms of monks. Eventually it ended up as a fasting meal.' Monks are the symbol of Bavaria's capital Munich and different orders and monasteries give their names to many of the state's most prominent beers. The excavation site in Regensburg has been a hit with archaeologists, who recently discovered a wooden house there thought to be up to 1,200 years old. On the site, which lies on the Danube, there are plans to build a museum for Bavarian history to mark the 2018 centenary of the region's status as a free state. The excavation site in Regensburg, Bavaria, has been fruitful for archaeologists, who recently discovered a wooden house there thought to be up to 1,200 years old . Popular snack: Pretzels are a traditional south German and Austrian delicacy and have been a favorite in Germany for centuries .
Traditional snack was found next to croissant and bread roll in Regensburg . All are charred and experts believe they were burnt by 18th century baker . They concluded that the preservation is a result of them being burnt . Pretzels have been a popular snack in Germany and Austria for centuries .