The European Iron Age by Collis John;

Author:Collis, John; [JOHN COLLIS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2011-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

Scale: 1:2

22 The Heuneburg, Baden-Württemberg

The most extensively excavated of the major centres of Hallstatt D is the Heuneburg, which overlooks the upper reaches of the Danube (a). The hillfort itself is fairly small enclosing some 3–2ha, but there was also occupation outside, at least in the early phases, and the distribution of the rich tumuli around the site, suggests there should be other areas of settlement in the vicinity (b).

The hillfort had already been occupied in the late Bronze Age, but had then been abandoned during Hallstatt C. During the sixth and the beginning of the fifth centuries it was rebuilt on a number of occasions, usually with a box rampart, a wall of timber back and front, with the middle divided by cross-timbers into chambers which were filled with stone and earth. But in one phase, period III, a different construction was used, of bricks dried in the sun, and laid on a limestone foundation (c). This was not the only feature unique to central Europe at this time, the rampart was provided with bastions, square projecting towers which allowed cross-fire against anyone attacking the wall (d). These are all features found in the Mediterranean world, and were perhaps introduced by a Greek. Towards the end of its life the wall was patched up using the same techniques, but, despite the fact that the knowledge of the construction technique had not been lost, and although it seems to have shown considerable resistance to the climate (it survived longer than any of the other ramparts), the experiment was not repeated. Excavations have been largely confined to the southeast corner (e) where there is a deep build-up of deposits. The buildings consisted mainly of workshops (f) with traces of hearths, ovens and four-post structures which may have been chimneys. The area seems to have been completely cleared every decade or so, and reconstructed, though in some cases there was continuity of the same industry on the same plot of ground. Bronze was certainly worked, and one find included the mould for the face at the base of a handle from an Etruscan-style jug. Bronze was also worked in the extra-mural settlement where moulds for bracelets have been found.

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