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The Danube Valley's District of
Hochdorf
Ceann mor:
Position is currently vacant
One of the most important and best documented excavations of a Celtic burial mound belongs to "The Prince of Hochdorf." At some time around 550 BC, a Celtic noble was buried under a mound in what is now Eberdingen-Hochdorf (Baden-Württemberg) Deutschland/Germany. Since 1968, Renate Liebfried, honorary deputy for the Office of Monument Preservation in Baden-Wuerttemberg, had often looked at the stones that were being plowed up here. The examination of these areas resulted in the discovery of the remains of the grave mound. The site was endangered by agricultural development, and was completely excavated in 1978/79 under the direction of Dr. Jorg Biel. It was one of the few undisturbed royal burials of the Early Celtic Period. The passage grave was in an excellent state of preservation and allowed the first detailed insights into the world of the Celtic princes to be gathered. The Hochdorf prince's appearance could be reconstructed as well as certain aspects of his way of life.  The Outer Timber Log Grave Chamber
 The Inner Chamber
The barrow was found to contain two wooden burial chambers one situated inside the other. In the inner chamber was found the remains of a man and a number of burial gifts. The man who occupied the log cabin-style burial chamber had been an impressive figure in life. Visibly striking he stood 6'3" tall (1.92 m) towering over his contemporaries. He was about 45 years of age when he died and was laid out in state on an elaborately decorated bronze couch thought to be of Greek origin. The couch was held up by cast bronze human figures riding unicycles.it was covered with furs and other fabrics and situated along the west wall of the chamber. On and around his body were various objects of personal adornment: a conical birch-bark hat, a gold torc and bracelet -- his belt, dagger and even his shoes were covered with gold foil. At his feet stood an enormous bronze cauldron of Western Greek manufacture and decorated with Lions. it had been filled with mead it's capacity 70 gallons (318 litres) At his head and along the south wall hung nine drinking horns.  Conical Birch Bark Hat
 The Hochdorf Lion Cauldron
 Hochdorf Prince's Shoes
 Horses from Yoke
 Dagger with Gold Foil
 Gold Bowl
One of the many Drinking Horns
The walls and floor of the chamber were entirely covered with woven and embroidered textiles; a great deal
of plant fibers and animal fur attest to the presence of further organic material in the tomb. Some of the
objects themselves were carefully wrapped in cloth. Other drinking and banqueting vessels were placed on or
in the cauldron, and stacked on the bed of a chariot or wagon that occupied the eastern portion of the chamber.
The chariot had four wheels each wheel had ten spokes. The chariot had a draught pole 7 feet long (2.38m) and
the height of the box was just above its axles. The wagon box was not attached to the axles, so it was removable.
It was decorated with iron sheathing. He had been carried by this chariot to the grave site. According
to Dr Erwin Keefer of Stuttgart Museum, this rich archaeological treasure shows us that the person buried in it
was a cultured diplomat in touch with the most advanced people of the ancient world – the Greeks.
He traded in Greek goods – and probably Greek ideas, too. And what made people such as the Hochdorf Prince rich?
It was the iron that these people mined and which introduced a totally new dimension to trading with the Greeks.
  Hochdorf: Die Funde-The Celtic Chieftain's Grave All Images Courtesy of Keltenmuseum Hochdorf D-71735 Eberdingen-Hochdorf (Germany) Keltenstr.
The Discussions of Hochdorf:
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