Prellenkirchen site

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Fig. 1, aerial view of the Prellenkirchen site

The reference Prellenkirchen (Lower Austria) is the archaeological excavation site, which in train the establishment of, between November 2002 and May 2003 Northeast Highway A6 - the connection of the East motorway A4 with the motorway network in Slovakia in Bratislava - was born. As part of a rescue excavation by the Federal Monuments Office under the direction of Franz Sauer , the remains of an early Bronze Age burial ground , a Celtic settlement and remains from the migration period were recovered.

Geographical location

In the midst of agriculturally used agricultural areas, 4.1 km east of the center of Prellenkirchen (Lower Austria) next to the confluence of the Obere Hauptstrasse and Burgenlandstrasse, a 60 m wide and 700 m long strip was archaeologically examined, which is now covered by the route of the A6 (Fig . 1).

Early Bronze Age burial ground

Fig. 2, Early Bronze Age male burial with coffin rest

The remains of an early Bronze Age burial ground were discovered in the northern area of ​​the excavation area. 42 graves could be assigned to the Wieselburg culture due to the burial customs . The graves were loosely scattered about in an approximately northeast-southwest orientation. The dead were buried in a crouching position. Due to favorable soil conditions, the use of tree coffins could be observed on the basis of wood residues that had survived 3600 years in the ground. The skeletons of men, women and children were found in the graves, of whose clothing only the permanent parts - bronze robe pins - remained. They were adorned with bronze bracelets and, in rare cases, with amber pearls made from the “gold of the north” , which were preserved in some graves despite the grave robbery that was common at that time.

Only one grave (Fig. 2) turned out to be undisturbed after the discovery: the grave of a young man who died from a skull injury. Even in death he was armed with a dagger . The accompanying ceramic vessel, which was found covered with a stone slab, contained a drink. One of the youngest graves is that of a chief who was brought to the end of the Early Bronze Age in 1600 BC by means of a robe needle - a twisted, obliquely perforated ball-head needle. Can be dated BC. He carried a bronze dagger and a cut stone ax. This weapon is characteristic of the end of the Stone Age (until 2300 BC). Possibly she distinguished the owner as a dignitary of a centuries-old tradition. The settlement belonging to the burial ground was probably nearby. The area was densely populated in the Early Bronze Age, as evidenced by several simultaneous sites in the vicinity.

Celtic settlement

Fig. 3, excavation plan of the Celtic settlement

In the south (Fig. 3) of the documented excavation area, the remainder of a Celtic settlement came to light: a well, numerous pit houses and a pottery furnace speak of the presence of a rural population who can be assigned to the Boier tribe . From the actual houses, which were built of wood, clay and straw, no traces remained in the ground. The found pit houses were used as workshops for forging, pottery and weaving, for example. They were characterized by narrow, rectangular humic discolorations in the surrounding loamy soil. Characteristic of these houses is the ridge post on each narrow side, which was sunk into the ground, which was still visible through the post pits that were preserved. Iron tools, everyday objects made of clay and jewelry made of glass were found in the houses. Parts of a very well-preserved pottery kiln give an insight into the craft of pottery. As found ceramic fragments show, vessels were made with the help of a potter's wheel.

Fig. 4, Perforated tennis court of the Celtic ceramic stove from Prellenkirchen

After drying, they were placed on the perforated dish of the dome furnace (Fig. 4), under which the furnace was located. With such a furnace, the ceramic material could be heated slowly and optimally fired at high temperatures in a homogeneous firing atmosphere without damaging the vessels. The preservation of a well in the settlement is impressive. The shaft was carefully clad with rubble stones (Fig. 5). Such small settlements were helplessly exposed to military attacks, they were looted and destroyed. The residents were able to take refuge in the closest refuges ( Oppida ) on Burgberg near Bratislava or on Braunsberg near Hainburg in good time. The Boier, who lived at the Hungarian Gate , were born in 50 BC. Destroyed by the Dacians .

Remains of the Migration Period

Fig. 5, Fountain of the Celtic settlement in front of Prellenkirchen

In the warlike turmoil of the migration period in the 4th / 5th In the 19th century AD, Germanic Suebi settled in today's Prellenkirchen, the area south of the Danube that belonged to the Roman Empire. Here, too, pit houses were used as workshops, which differed significantly from those of the Celts in the excavation area by a six-post construction. The ground floor main houses belonging to the homestead left no archaeologically verifiable traces in Prellenkirchen. The two pit houses were near the Early Bronze Age graves.

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Commons : Fundstelle Prellenkirchen  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 48 ° 3 ′ 45 ″  N , 17 ° 0 ′ 24 ″  E