Altburg
Overview
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This is a reconstructed Celtic village from the late Latène period, some detailed description are found here. |
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Location
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N 49° 50' 55.62",
E7° 23' 30.78" Elevation 303m above sea level |
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Description
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This is a reconstructed Celtic village from
the period of 350 - approximately 45 BC, i.e. during the Latène period up to
the occupation of the Roman forces by Caesar. The collection of
building signifies the different building styles, using post-based buildings
to move the main building area above ground.
A 8 m high embankment of 80-m length as well as a ditch 3-m deep and 4-11-m wide surrounded the 2.4 ha cliff spur of the "old castle". Along the steep cliffs, slightly smaller fortifications protected the summit plateau. The entrance is is located at the end
of the kennel-like slightly bending wall and rock formations. The village
was partially constructed as a post construction and partially as a
ditch-wall surrounded collection of houses. The oldest construction phase
consisted apparently only of one ring of palisades. The most extensive
fortication work is a two-cased 6 m wide wall, which was stabilized by a
scaffolding of planks. The wall surrounding the settlement vanished in
a fire. The interior of the plateau is
partitioned by the demarcation of an upper castle immediately behind the
embankment. The adjacent lower castle was constructed more densely and
included narrow lanes and a small central place. The larger houses were
found in the upper castle area and findings of high quality and the presence
of an unusual rock cellar support the idea that the upper castle belonged to
a regional tribal leader.
More than 200 houses storage areas have been found up to now. However, only one third of the post pits could be completed in the inside of the castle. Accordingly, the precise number of buildings as well as the number of people living in this area cannot determined with sufficient precision. The residential constructions consisted of corner post and
mucky-plastered wickerwork walls. The houses were covered with wooden
shingles or by a straw covered saddle roof . An intermediate floor was presumably
built underneath the roof. The storage houses were constructed on four
or six wooden posts, which provided protection against pests and humidity. It is difficult to precisely date the scanty shards and finding material due to the relatively thin earth coverage. However, the settlement can be placed to the time from the middle of the 4th century B.C. until shortly before the Gallic war (58-50 B.C.). Wooden findings can be dated dendrochronologically to the year 78 B.C. Findings do not suggest that there was appreciable commercial activity or trade activity in this area.
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Context
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Altburg served as a center and place of
trade for the farming communities in the area. There have been several
archaeological excavations that have revealed finds from far away including
an Etruscan wine amphorae from the Mediterranean region. The
individuals who lived here were most likely members of the Treveri tribe.
The Roman occupiers presumably used existing paths and roads, extended them greatly to allow for effective communication and defending the Germanic tribes that lived east of the Limes. |
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Speculation
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References
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Comprehensive summary of the Celtic village Altburg.
A detailed description of the Altburg in German.
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Pictures |
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The
reconstruction is based on excavations that were conducted between
1971-1975. This village was located along a highly traveled road that
connected the area around Trier and the Moselle to that of the Nahe and
Rhine River.
