Celtic House Construction at Heidengraben – Craftsmanship, Everyday Life, and Reconstruction

Lecture on Celtic House Construction at Heidengraben: Andrea Häussler provides insights into building techniques, craftsmanship, daily life, and the lives of the Celts around 2000 years ago, based on archaeological finds and modern reconstructions. How did the Celts live? How were their houses built – and what do post holes, clay remnants, and charred wood tell us about life 2000 years ago? The wood technician, turner, and museum craftsman Andrea Häussler will introduce the fascinating world of Celtic house construction this evening and demonstrate how closely craftsmanship, culture, and daily life were interconnected. Heidengraben, the largest oppidum on the European mainland, was a vibrant settlement with thousands of inhabitants during the Late La Tène period. Based on archaeological evidence, modern reconstructions, and many practical examples, Andrea Häussler shows how the houses at Heidengraben were built, used, and designed – and what we can learn from them today. She provides insights into Celtic wooden construction methods, tools and carpentry techniques, the living spaces and hearths of that time, as well as modern reconstruction methods that make ancient knowledge tangible. This creates a vivid picture of how the people at Heidengraben lived, worked, and shaped their environment. The lecture is aimed at all those interested in taking a deeper look into Late Celtic residential culture.