Celtic collection of the Württemberg State Museum
The Celtic collection of the Württemberg State Museum is a sub-collection of the State Museum . Since 2016 this collection has been called True Treasures Celts and has the subtitle State graves and centers of power from the 7th to 5th centuries BC in Württemberg . The presentation is an overview of the culture of the early Celts in southwest Germany and their networking in prehistoric Europe. With this sub-collection, the State Museum has one of the world's most important holdings from this era. The centers of power (so-called “princely seats”) of this early Celtic period are characterized by monumental fortifications, large burial mounds in their vicinity, representative buildings and imported goods from the Mediterranean region. The additions from the numerous state graves are of unique importance for European archeology and cultural history.
history
As early as the 16th century there were sensational finds of golden objects from the vicinity of Hohenasperg . The news of this led to the first official dig. Until well into the 19th century, treasure hunters - or private enthusiast researchers - were characteristic of prehistoric research, which did not place any value on recording and evaluating the context of the find. Even the antiquity associations that arose in the first half of the 19th century were not yet scientifically oriented. It was only when the office of curator of art and antiquity monuments was re-established in 1858 that the turning point was brought about in Württemberg.
At his instigation, the special collection of patriotic art and antiquity monuments - today's Württemberg State Museum - was founded by King Wilhelm I ; that was the decisive step forward. This institutionalization led to excavations that were accompanied or initiated by the state curator and ended with the finds being part of the collection. These finds were supplemented by the handover or purchases as well as donations of individual items and collections from private individuals and associations. The most notable was the transfer of ownership of the collection of the Württemberg Antiquities Association .
From 1917 the extraordinary professorship for prehistory at the University of Tübingen supported Celtic research. In 1921 the first excavations took place on the Heuneburg near Hundersingen, Sigmaringen district. The systematic exploration and determination of the Heuneburg as a “princely seat” did not begin until the 1950s. Only after the war did the further development of excavation technology and the scientific analysis of the finds open up new levels of accuracy in determining the material and the dating of the finds.
Collection and presentation
The display collection True Treasures - Celts has been redesigned since May 2016 and represents a modern presentation of the early Celtic period. Since the early Celtic society of the Hallstatt culture has no written records, it can only be grasped on the basis of the archaeological findings and therefore its structure is only vague imagine. These archaeological findings are presented in an impressive and vivid way.
Building the early Celtic society
Since the rich gold offerings of the magnificent graves that were discovered in quick succession indicated the outstanding social position of the buried, the pioneers of archeology saw them as "princes". But this term is misleading because it is used in a completely different historical context. They are probably representatives of the wealthiest and most powerful families, the elites, who have built this position over generations.
There are barrows that were erected as grave monuments with enormous effort. These are faced with more simply furnished body graves. Still other dead were cremated and even buried without any additions. This multiple gradation indicates a strongly structured society, the top of which is represented by the deceased in the formerly so-called “princely graves”. They can be better described as the “grand tombs of the elite”, in which a lot of gold as well as valuable tools and utensils were found as gifts.
This rich and powerful elite probably sat in the central places, the so-called “princely seats”. The burial mounds of the splendid elite graves are located near or in the vicinity of these often well-fortified places. The most important finds from these ceremonial tombs in Württemberg can be seen in the exhibition.
Early Celtic power centers - so-called "princely seats"
There are three such centers of power in Württemberg: the Hohenasperg near Ludwigsburg , the Ipf on the edge of the Nördlinger Ries and the Heuneburg on the upper Danube. This is shown in more detail in the exhibition.
It is conceivable that the Heuneburg is the city of Pyrene , named by the Greek historian Herodotus . In any case, the images in the exhibition show the impressive fortifications that were an expression of the power and prestige of the ruling elite and their families.
Presented finds from ceremonial tombs of the Celtic elite
The finds from the Württemberg elite graves are presented in roughly historically correct chronological order.
The swordtail of Gomadingen
These finds come from a grave from the 7th century BC. Chr., The gold-plated handle of the accompanying sword (= symbol of stature) and a service of nine richly decorated vessels show the beginning of the development of the magnificent grave.
The magnificent grave of Inzigkofen-Vilsingen
The few remains of this burial make it appear as one of the first early Celtic ceremonial graves. It already has a complete set of vessels for a feast, including a bronze jug that had been in use for a long time.
The ceremonial grave of Hochdorf
The discovery of this grave in 1978/79 was unique because it was the first time that an early Celtic elite grave could be fully examined. The extraordinarily good state of preservation of the burial chamber and the finds allowed insights into the world of the early Celts, which were previously not possible.
See also the Hochdorf Celtic Museum , where the burial chamber is shown in a replica.
The large bronze sofa that served the buried person as a death bed is still unique today. It is carried by eight female figurines that stand on wheels. The well-preserved float is a highlight of the early Celtic wagner and blacksmith craft. The bronze cauldron is also very impressive; it is composed of old parts and probably had an eventful history behind it when it was placed in the grave next to the sofa. Furthermore, a drinking and dining service for nine people was found and many personal items of equipment for the buried person. This magnificent tomb in its diversity and with its differentiated statements about the Celtic elite represents one of the highlights of the Celtic collection.
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The state graves of Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt
In 1934 and 1937, two early Celtic “princely graves” were discovered on the other side of the Neckar, 12 km from Hohenasperg. With the gold finds, they show the typical features of the Celtic elite.
The Roman Hill of Ludwigsburg
As early as 1877, when a water tank was installed in the Roman hill on the southern edge of Ludwigsburg, an extremely rich early Celtic grand grave was found. The side grave in the same Roman hill corresponds in many details to the ensemble from the elite grave of Hochdorf. The great similarity of the furnishings suggests a temporal proximity to the Hochdorf funeral.
The Grafenbühl near Hohenasperg
Grafenbühl, 650 meters south-east of Hohenasperg, was examined in 1964/65. The burial chamber had already been almost completely looted in antiquity. However, the scanty remains show that the hill once housed one of the most magnificent early Celtic graves in southern Germany. It was decorated even more preciously than the Hochdorf grave. Fragments of Mediterranean furniture - inlays and inlays made of ivory, amber and bone - rich, partly imported drinking sets, the remains of a four-wheeled iron-sheathed cart and gold-decorated brooches and belt buckles testify to the wealth of the buried.
The most important pieces include two small sphinxes made of stag horn and ivory with amber faces, dating from 600 BC. In Taranto and once adorned a box or a piece of furniture.
The “princely grave” of Kleinaspergle - a sign of a new style and a new time
As early as 1879, Oscar Fraas excavated the central grave, which was completely robbed. But in a side chamber an intact, richly decorated ornate tomb from the second half of the 5th century BC, the early La Tène period, was discovered. The ornaments already show the independently developed style of the new era. This grave marks the transition to the early Latène style. Just one example is the gold-plated decorative disc, which was attached either to leather or to fabric, and has a rich decoration and was constructed using a compass.
The reconstructed grave mound of Hochdorf
Aerial view of the Hochdorf burial mound
The Kleinaspergle, an elite grave of the Latène period
The Heuneburg, a fortified seat of the Celtic elite
Heuneburg, elite graves (so-called "princely graves")
The death bed in the grand grave of Hochdorf
Bronze kettle from Hochdorf
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literature
- Hoppe Thomas, Katrin Ludwig: True treasures of the Celts. State graves and centers of power from the 7th to 5th centuries BC in Württemberg . Published by the Landesmuseum Württemberg, Stuttgart 2016, ISBN 978-3-7995-1141-4 .
- The world of the Celts. Centers of power - treasures of art. Edited by the Archaeological State Museum Baden-Württemberg, the State Museum Württemberg and the State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council. Jan Thorbecke, Ostfildern 2012, ISBN 978-3-7995-0752-3 .
- The Heuneburg - Celtic prince seat on the upper Danube. (= Guide to archaeological monuments in Baden-Württemberg. Volume 28). Published by the State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council, Freiburg im Breisgau 2015, ISBN 978-3-8062-2975-2 .
Web links
- State Museum Württemberg - Iron Age
- Landesmuseum Württemberg - Real treasures
- Celtic town of Heuneburg
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hoppe Thomas, Katrin Ludwig: True treasures of the Celts. State graves and centers of power from the 7th to 5th centuries BC in Württemberg . Published by the Landesmuseum Württemberg, Stuttgart 2016, ISBN 978-3-7995-1141-4 , pp. 11-17.