Fortification Hochkessel
Overview
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The Hochkessel is an example of a fortified walled area that has inspired a number of investigators to speculate about the activities that may have transpired there. |
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Composite of location of the Hochkessel Area
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Location of Tumuli along the Rhine and Moselle area.
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Location
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+50° 4' 43.79", +7° 10' 1.27" Elevation
412 m above sea level |
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Description
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A pre-historic ring-wall
fortication has bee identified surrounding the peak of the Hochkessel (420
m) , the highest elevation in the vicinity. The hilltop falls of sharply to
the the East and West. The proper walled fortification is almost oval
in shape with slightly rounded edges and is situated in the center of a
heavily wooded area. An additional wall can be found diagonally from
the North East to the South West. The length of the fortified area
measures a length of about 95 m and a width of 50 m. The stone wall is
only partially preserved and has a diameter of approximately 8 m.
The Eastern border is
further fortified with a large stone mound, which is located about 20 m from
the fortified area and an additional ditch measuring 3.5 m in width.
It is likely that the double defense area provided the main entrance to the
internal oval fortified center. On the steep area facing the Moselle
river the walled mounds have slipped over the past 2 millenia. On the
other side, however, the wall structure is almost entirely maintained.
The stone wall grey blocks, qaurtz, and to a smaller degree of Devon shale. Based on fire destruction some of these walled areas have been slagged. The surface of the center area was flattened and is devoid of any identifiable structures. The relics that have been found in the vicinity of this fortified area data back to the Hunsrück Eifel Culture (HEK). |
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Context
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The development of
fortified settlements along elevated areas was probably a direct development
of the increasing attacks of the trading centers along the elevations of the
Rhine-Moselle area that had resulted in greater wealth. Many of these
areas were the beginning of separation of labor and provided increased
technology to harvest and pre-process iron, a commodity that was in
high demand in the Mediterranean cultures.
Panorama of the Mosel along Nehren, The Moselle River served as a major traffic route in moving iron bars South to the Mediterranean.
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Speculation
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This area has been
associated with the development of novel charcoal burners technology. Maybe
ores were also melted directly with the wooden coal depots and were forged
into iron. Such processes can cause result in increasing production of slag
when exposed to heat of more than 1,000 degrees . It is striking that
slagged rocks are to be found more concentrated at places which has spured
those newer speculations. As a supernatural power the Celts revered physical gods in special cult sites. Apollo expelled illnesses, Mars steered the wars, Diana, as a goddess of the woods and the light, provided for hunting success. Mercury had influence on financial matters and commercial affairs. Jupiter ruled over the sky. Their cult sites operated by the Gauls were often located in especially prominent points. The sacrificial rituals done the druids who had a priest-like state. They used various cult actions, e.g. the mistletoe, if it had grown up on an oak. During fire rituals young animals were sacrificed like cattle, sheep, dogs and pigs, but occasionally also people, which were probably arrested opponents.
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References
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Berg, Axel von / Wegner, Hans H
Mohr, Michael Cochem-Zell. Landschaft an der Mosel Verlag: Theiss, 2005 ISBN: 3806219532 EAN: 9783806219531 |
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Pictures |
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