The tumuli of the Hunsrück

		The tumuli of the Hunsrück-Eifel-Culture H.H.Wegner Originally Published here.
		Gradually the population cultures of the late bronze age developed technologies for the production, smelting and processing of the iron ore. In the middle mountain zones to the east and especially to the west of the Rhine and the neighboring mountain ranges the iron age named after this new material (1250-700 B.C.) formed. This period goes back to the beginning of the urnfield culture. A particular aspect of this culture unfolded in the Middle Rhine region and in the surrounding shale mountain. The culture of the western middle mountain area has been called the Hunsrück-Eifel-Culture on account of the numerous, rather extensive grave-mound fields, an almost uniform funeral custom, and the distinct form of a typical settlement inventory. The economic basis was farming and ranching agriculture. One can clearly distinguish the settlement characteristics from the preceding time. The settlement inventory is of higher quality and is more carefully decorated. In addition, the different grave cult is an obvious common sign of this group. The dead people were burned; the corpse ash was collected in urns and buried on level fields or tumulus fields. The funerals contained different types of additions. One finds urns as well as skeletal graves. The grave-mound fields are, according to the bronze-era tradition, predominantly on the mountain ranges of the mostly wooded extensions of the Middle Rhine mountain chains. In particular, one has to mention the Heller forest on the edge of the Hunsrück in the area of Boppard, which contains iron-age grave-mounds.
Reconstruction from Hochdorf		A significant number of the still preserved grave-mounds had to give way to an extension of the current industrial zone. Several experts of the office for archeology in Koblenz excavated several of these funeral arrangements. During these excavations, one was able to observe a variety of details about grave custom and grave rite. Only some results should be stated exemplarily, because they are of special interest. A rectangular arrangement of the grave was found, which consisted of a pit-like, dark discoloration in the center surrounded by the construction of a hill. This arrangement had a side length of about 2.0 ms x 1.80 ms. On the narrow sides stone settlements and in the corners were obviously the remains of post positions, which were wedged by additional stones. In the middle, tips arose at different places for crossbeams. Iron nails were found that were used to connect these fragments.
		Obviously, this was an example of castes-shaped construction, which served as a burial chamber for the funeral. The grave installations were made of a coarse box constructed from planks, which was strengthened below and on the sides by stone settlements and posts, which were wedged by stones. Above the grave a mound was established. Ceramics existed only in very small fragments; there were not other additions. Based on the construction and arrangements it appears to have been a wagon grave. The addition of a 2-wheeled chariot a status symbol of the time, which belonged to the deceased possibly while still alive is a typical symbol of the status of a member of the nobility and is characteristic for this area. Another noteworthy findings should be mentioned.
		In the southeast part of the grave field was a hill, which was made basically of a massive stone grit ring permeated by clayey slate-decomposed ground. The massive stone wreath was raised by a graveled elevation. The center of the hill contained a double funeral. Both grave pits lay side by side about 2 ms parallel almost in east west direction. The grave pits were laid out with stone stones of the surrounding area. Obviously the dead people had been buried in a coffin or on a dead person's board, which is supported by remnants of charred wood. The bones of the skeletons had almost completely been decomposed. In the southern grave only remains of a skull were found. At about shoulder height there was an absolutely corroded toilet utensil made of iron. In the eastern corner stood a nearly completely preserved, but crushed vessel.
Example from Hochdorf:		The northern grave had similar grave installations. In addition, remnants made of wooden arrangements probably indicate remains of the former coffin. In the southern corner a ceramic vessel was found as a grave addition. Moreover, two arm rings made of bronze were rescued. Small remains of arm bone were also recovered. The vessels of both graves had been crushed very badly, but were still reconstructable from its components. The pieces of the vessels have a smooth surface and are carefully crafted ceramics. The typical decoration of herringbone can be seen on the shoulder and in the layout of the vessel. One vessel has, in addition, a polished decoration, which draws rays-shaped three lines of the layout to the ground. Both pieces of jewelry are simple bronze, wire-shaped arm rings with half-oval cross section. The toilet utensil of iron has been completely recovered, however, details are not recognizable because of the strong corrosion.
Examples of Fibulas from Hochdorf		This is an example of the Hunsrück Eifel culture (about 450 - 390 B.C.), even though there are only scanty additions of the funerals. A specific feature forms the double funeral, which is unique in this region but its significance has not yet been fully understood. The anthropological investigation of the osseous fragments proved that it concerns the skull mature to senescent man at the age of about 41 to 60 years. The accompanying settlement to this grave-mound field of the Hunsrück Eifel culture is not known. Settlements to such grave-mound fields were situated, as a rule, not too far away in the area of the upper valley depressions close to wells. During that time the entire Hunsrück region was settled. It has been proposed that there was a high population density based on the fact that the river valleys along the Rhein and the Mosel also constituted settlement areas. Thus, there probably were, in cities along the rivers, as in Braubach, and in immediate neighborhood of Boppard, settlements of the Iron Age.
		Because of the strong valley erosion and the dense modern cultivation it is difficult to still find those iron-age cities. The settlement of the older Iron Age, so-called Hallstatt epoch, transitions to the epoch of the younger Iron Age, the Latène culture (450 - 0) almost completely without interruption in the areas of the Middle Rhein and in the Hunsrück. The Celts are thought of as the bearer of the Latène culture. The settlement patterns of the Hallstatt era are continued in the Latène culture. Beside the smaller, castle-like height settlements farms predominate in the open landscape. According to archaeological findings of other regions the farms were non-fortified. The life basis formed agriculture and cattle breeding. Techniques were adapted from the Mediterranean area in the area of construction and craft art, as for example potter disc, lathe, smelting being and craft of the metal processing, are continued and intensified.
Town reconstruction of Hochdorf:		This time marks the beginning of the monetary economy. One can find within graveyards sometimes very extravagant and rich funerals beside typically outfitted deceased, which point to different society stratifications, which were already noticeable during the Hallstatt era. Over time a particular system of social interrelations had emerged, which developed a local allegiances and evolved in the Middle Rhein area as a culture of small nobility systems. The additions in the graves, e.g., the wagon funerals, bronze dishes etc. reveal a respectable wealth of a privileged group, probably predominantly on trade, but also on down-to-earth, efficient craft and art trade.
Locations of findings surrounding the Hunsrück Eifel culture from: "Oliver Nakoinz: Studien zur räumlichen Abgrenzung und Strukturierung der älteren Hunsrück-Eifel-Kultur"		The tumuli of the Hunsrück Eifel culture can be found along maps of the street settlement (Vicus) around the shores of the Rhine river, the Late-Roman fort Bodobrica as well as the graveyards in Proffen' and St. Martin (after H. Eiden). During the Celtic era the Middle Rhine region, the mouth Lahn and Moselle mouth had close commercial relations with Etruscan, Northern Italian, and Helvetian as well as with Colonial-Greek and southeast-French. The economic and political influence of the Mediterranean area extended increasingly to the north. The Iron Age has a special meaning as a time of the extending colonization, which took place since the middle of the pre-Christian millennium and was not only limited to the Mediterranean area. This resulted in the settlement of up to now unoccupied regions in the Middle Rhein region. A clear population increase was occurred. In spiritual-political and economic area the orientation toward the south grew.
		The skill needed to harvest iron ore and to smelt it promoted progress. One could produce efficient working devices and market the produced, Celt's steel in raw ingot as a commodity. The cultural advancement was also promoted by imports from the Northern Italian and Etruscan cultural area. Together with typical Southern wine utensils, e.g., beak pots, washbasins and Situlen made of bronze the knowledge was transferred at the same time about the application of the objects during festival banquets and symposia in solemnly ritual frame. There are no relicts in the City of Boppard about this epoch of the prince and car graves of the West-Central European Iron Age. One can find these, however, in the immediate neighborhood, as for example at Waldalgesheim, Perscheid and Donsbrüggen. Moreover, the Celtic column of Rheinfeld is a well-known relict of this time.

The tumuli of the Hunsrück-Eifel-Culture

H.H.Wegner