During excavation activities on the Church grounds, the stonework of the former Transept was discovered. The excavated section reveals some of the foundation as well as the rising brickwork. The foundation is in some areas over two meters deep. Examinations have found that the Church-building was constructed with a high degree of professionalism. The level of professionalism is especially surprising considering the fact that brick was, at the time, a completely new type of construction material. It is assumed that builders from northern Italy - where brick as a building material was first used - were responsible for the oversight of the construction. Friedrich I Barbarossa may have brought the Italian master builder with him on the visit to Altenburg upon which he initiated the construction of the Stiftskirche.