Overview

The Bleidenberg is a plateau adjacent to the town of Oberfell, which has been used as a place of settlement dating back to the stone age.  Most recently, however, there have been excavations of Celtic walls from around the 1st century BCE to the 1st century AD.  In addition there is evidence of settlements from the Late Hallstatt / Early Latène period (500 BCE).

Location

N 50,15.04.58, E 7,27.22.68, Elevation 250m above sea level

Description

Thus far, the excavated Celtic ware remains are that of typically constructed posted wall fortifications.  Specifically, posts were fixed 1.5 m (5 feet) apart in the ground and rocks were arranged in between the posts to form the fortification.  Older parts of the wall were regularly replaced by new rocks.  The walls reached up to a height of about 3 m (10 feet).

During earlier times (probably around 500 BCE), this walled fortification was surrounded by a ditch, which made it more difficult for intruders to reach the plateau.

Plateau settlements are quite common for this period.  The plateau provides a convenient place for agriculture, which is less vulnerable to erosion, and a location that allows the settlers to detect outsiders early.  This area was settled by the Treveri during the last centuries BC. 

Settlements along the heights of the Mosel River were abandoned after the Roman settlement of the area.  This period was characterized by a move into the valleys of the Mosel River.

Context

The Bleidenberg is another example of an Oppida, fortified settlements that blossomed during the Late Latène period, which coincides with an increase in wealth of the Celtic settlers.  This period predates the arrival of the Roman occupying forces lead by Caesar.

Speculation

References

 A German Description of the Bleidenberg can be found here.

Archäologie in Rheinland-Pfalz 2002, pp 45-47.

Pictures