Schöningen is a city of 13,500 inhabitants (2003) in Helmstedt, Lower Saxony. In its current form, it was created in 1974 by joining the municipalities of Esbeck , Hoiersdorf , and Schöningen.
The main industry in Schöningen is open-cast mining of lignite, which is used for electricity generation in the Buschhaus plant. Both mining and generation are operated by the Braunschweigische Kohlebergwerke AG.
The first historical mentioning of Schöningen was in 748. In the 14th century, Schöningen became a city; at the same time the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg built a palace here.
In archaeology, Schöningen is famous for seven palaeolithic wooden spears found in an opencast mine near the town.
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