Princes, Long-Distance Trade, and Burial Mounds – Archaeology of the Early Celtic Period at Heuneburg

Lecture on the Early Celtic Period at Heuneburg: Dr. Leif Hansen and Dr. Roberto Tarpini report on princely seats, long-distance trade, and spectacular burial mound finds that provide insights into the power, culture, and networks of the Celts. Over two and a half millennia ago, powerful elites ruled along the upper Danube, whose splendor and influence radiated far beyond their settlement boundaries. Their traces lie hidden in monumental burial mounds or are revealed through intricate grave goods and the remains of fortified cities – silent witnesses of a fascinating culture that archaeologists are gradually bringing to light today. On this evening, two leading experts on the early Celtic period will take their audience on a journey into this world. Dr. Leif Hansen (State Office for Monument Preservation) opens the view of Heuneburg, a princely seat of European significance, whose trade connections extended into the Mediterranean region and which is considered an outstanding political and economic center of its time. Dr. Roberto Tarpini (also from the State Office for Monument Preservation) reports on an archaeological sensation in Riedlingen: a fully preserved burial chamber made of oak, embedded in a massive burial mound – a find that acts like a window into the life and death of a high-ranking individual, even though the chamber had been looted in antiquity. Together, they paint a picture of a society that was skilled, well-connected, and power-conscious. Their descriptions reveal how closely intertwined rule, long-distance trade, and lavish burials were – and how archaeology can make these long-silenced stories audible once again.