 Archaeological finds dating back to the Thuringii epoch (3rd to 6th centuries) show that the Weimar part of the Ilm valley was settled early, with a tight network of settlements where the city is today.The oldest records regarding Weimar date to 899.Its name changed over the centuries from "Wimares" through "Wimari" to "Wimar" and finally Weimar; it is derived from Old High German "wīh-" (holy) and "-mari" (standing water, swamp).