Architecture, stratigraphy and meaning of the late Hallstatt monumental burial mound of Eberdingen-Hochdorf. Presentation, interpretation and comparative analyses of the features and finds.
Final Report Abstract
The monumental Late Hallstatt period (Ha D2) burial mound of Eberdingen-Hochdorf (district of Ludwigsburg), measuring 61.5 metres in diameter, is one of the most outstanding burial monuments of this period. The undisturbed central burial belongs to the group of “princely tombs”, which are found in southern Germany, Switzerland and eastern France and are usually located under monumental burial mounds. To date, however, only a few of these monumental burial mounds have been systematically excavated according to modern archaeological standards, i.e. their structure, construction process and the burial ritual reflected in the features are still insufficiently known. Following the comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the grave goods from the Hochdorf burial, the DFG project was the first to focus in detail on the features and stratigraphy of the burial monument. Thus, it was possible to establish that the burial mound was the result of a multi-stage burial ritual that extended over a longer period of time. The burial mound was constructed from the surrounding sediment, with individual architectural elements (burial chamber, mound enclosure) made of wood and – uncommon for the period – stone (entrance area, demarcation of the mound). Stone architecture is otherwise only found among the fortification architecture of the Late Hallstatt period. The stratigraphic analysis not only allowed us to understand the chronological sequence of the construction, but also made it possible to reconstruct certain aspects of the burial ritual. During the construction of the burial mound each individual architectural features had a specific, sometimes only temporary function within the burial ritual. The entrance area, built of dry-stone walls, for example, was initially used for the funeral procession to access the burial chamber before it was subsequently closed off by further walls. In the course of the concluding construction of the burial mound to its final height, however, the walls were partially deconstructed and its stones reused for the demarcating enclosure of the mound. The project also analysed other large burial mounds from the Hallstatt period. The analysis revealed clear differences regarding both the construction methods and the chronological development of constructions. The project also addressed the question of the origin of the custom to construct large burial mounds in the context of these ceremonial tombs. It was possible to hypothesise that Mediterranean, but also nomadic equestrian burial architecture was drawn upon. These influences were mainly spread via the Etruscan area and impacted regional models and traditions north of the Alps. This led to the emergence of monumental burial mounds among various groups across the Hallstatt culture north and northwest of the Alps from the Ha C2 period (i.e. over the course of the 7th c. BC) onwards.
Publications
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Einflussreich über den Tod hinaus. 40 Jahre Forschung über das „Fürstengrab“ von Eberdingen-Hochdorf. Denkmalpfl. Baden-Württemberg 2019/2, 2019, 112-116
T. J. Brestel
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Überlegungen zur Konstruktion späthallstattzeitlicher Kammergräber am Beispiel des Grabhügels von Hochdorf. In: Ch. Böckisch-Breuer/B. Mühlendorfer/M. Schönfelder (Hrsg.), Die frühe Eisenzeit in Mitteleuropa / Early Iron Age in Central Europe. Internationale Tagung vom 20.–22. Juli 2017 in Nürnberg. Beiträge zur Vorgeschichte Nordostbayerns 9 (Nürnberg 2019) 67-88
T. J. Brestel
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The Late Hallstatt Burial Mound of Hochdorf. In: St. Adroit/A. Bertaud/Th. Le Dreff/C. Moulin/Th. Poigt (Hrsg.), Représenter la protohistoire / Se représenter à la protohistoire: Actes des IVe rencontres doctorales de l’École européenne de protohistoire de Bibracte (12-13 mars 2018). Collection EEPB 2 (Glux-en- Glenne 2021) 121-127
T. J. Brestel
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Der Hochdorf-Effekt: Ein „Keltenfürst“ als Katalysator für die Landesarchäologie. In: Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart (Hrsg.), 50: Denkmalpflege in Baden-Württemberg 1972–2022 (Esslingen 2022) 28-33
J. Brestel & D. Krausse
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„Erinnern, das Gemeinschaft stiftet“ – Das Bestattungsritual im späthallstattzeitlichen Großgrabhügel von Hochdorf. In: R. Schuhman/M. Augstein/J. Fries-Knoblach/S. Gentner/M. Kirchmayr/M. Kohle/H. Wendling (Hrsg.), Eisenzeitliche Erinnerungskulturen: Zum Umgang eisenzeitlicher Gemeinschaften mit Relikten der Vergangenheit. Beiträge zur Ur- und Frühgeschichte Mitteleuropas 109 (Langenweissbach 2023) 45-61
T. J. Brestel
