Celtic burial mounds Horres

The Celtic barrow on the Horres corridor consists of three Celtic double graves , which are located on Landstrasse 105 between the Saarland community of Gersheim and its district of Reinheim, right next to a sewage treatment plant . The first grave (hill 1) was discovered in spring 2005 during exploratory excavations by the State Monuments Office prior to the construction of a sewage treatment plant between Gersheim and Reinheim on the "Horres" corridor. The other two graves, located about 55 meters and about 117 meters from Hill 1, were discovered in the course of further excavations in 2005. The age of the tombs (Hill 1 and Hill 3) was estimated to be around 400 BC. Dated. They therefore come from the early La Tène period . The originally existing mounds of earth had been completely leveled by agriculture. The graves are about 1.4 kilometers as the crow flies from the Celtic princess grave of Reinheim . After the excavations were completed, a grave mound was raised again over the Celtic children's double grave. During further excavations up to 2009, a late Celtic round sanctuary and other buildings from Roman times were uncovered in the immediate vicinity of the graves .

Hill 1 (Celtic children's double grave)

Reconstructed grave mound of the children's double grave

Findings of the children's double grave

Little horse brooch of the girl from the children's double grave

Bronze neck, arm and foot rings of the girl from the children's double grave

Immediately after their exposure, the two burials were recorded in their original position with the help of 3D laser scanning and 3D strip light scanning .

location

The grave is on the "Horres" corridor near Reinheim at an altitude of 219.44 m above sea level. NN. ( Map ) 49.140691 7.197549

Finding

A rectangular pit measuring 2.00 x 1.20 meters was uncovered about 30 cm below the surface of the earth. The pit was cut about 30 cm deep into the limestone rock. In a postulated wooden chamber measuring 1.80 meters by 1.10 meters, there were two skeletons with their heads facing north.

Burial 1 Only the long bones of the legs, parts of the foot bones and the humerus bones remain from this skeleton. Only fragments of the jaw and teeth have survived from the skull. The skeleton lying to the west in the double grave wore two bronze rings on each of its arms, legs and neck. In the area of the right and left shoulder there was a fibula made of iron and in the area of the chest a 3.2 cm bronze brooch. The belt hook of a leather belt that was no longer preserved was found in the pelvic area. In addition to the right thigh, a total of twelve glass and amber beads were found that belonged to a belt chain. The finds are in detail:

a solid, open bronze neck ring with seal ends and rounded cross-section (diameter: 13.6 cm × 12.8 cm; thickness: 0.45 cm)
a solid, open bronze neck ring with seal ends and rounded cross-section (diameter: 13.7 cm × 12.9 cm; thickness: 0.45 cm)
an iron brooch (spring pattern): four-loop spiral with partially preserved needle and foot
a 6 cm long and 2 cm high iron brooch (spring-Latène scheme) with a four-loop spiral and decorated bracket with red enamelled groove and decorated button
a 3.2 cm long and 2.4 cm high bronze horse brooch with a four-loop spiral, decorative discs and string
a solid, open arm ring made of bronze with seal ends and rounded cross-section (diameter: 5.7 cm × 5.4 cm; thickness: 0.35 cm)
a solid, open arm ring made of bronze with seal ends and rounded cross-section (diameter: 5.9 cm × 5.4 cm; thickness: 0.35 cm)
a 5.4 cm long and 0.8 cm wide belt-shaped belt hook made of iron with 5 transverse grooves and a hook base
nine blue glass and three amber beads
a solid, open foot ring made of bronze with seal ends and a rounded cross-section (diameter: 7.7 cm × 6.9 cm)
a solid, open foot ring made of bronze with seal ends and rounded cross-section (diameter: 7.6 cm × 6.9 cm)

Burial 2 The state of preservation of this skeleton is much better than that of the skeleton from burial 1. Large parts of the skull, the almost complete jaw, the almost complete long bones of the arms and legs with epiphyses and apophyses , ribs, parts of the left foot skeleton and the left hand skeleton and parts of the pelvis. In addition, two lumbar and some sacral vertebrae . The skeleton lying to the east wore a single bronze ring on its right arm. On the left side of the chest were the remains of a bronze brooch and an iron brooch. A single iron arrowhead was found to the right of the skull. The finds are in detail:

an iron arrowhead
Remains of a bronze brooch
Remains of an iron brooch
a solid, open upper arm ring made of bronze with overlapping ends and rounded cross-section (diameter: 6.7 cm; thickness: 0.35 cm)

Anthropological opinion

On the basis of the anthropological investigations it could be determined that the two burials were children. The age determination based on the long bones and teeth led to different age determinations. Since the bone structure of both burials is larger than average, the dental age was used to determine the age. The age at the onset of death for burial 1 was estimated to be approximately 12-14 years and the age of burial 2 was estimated to be 10 to 11 years. A clear determination of the sex could not be made anthropologically. The height of burial 1 was estimated to be about 144 cm to 145 cm, the height of burial 2 to 134 cm to 139 cm. The relatively large body size for the age of the two children can be traced back to a balanced and adequate diet as well as to genetic predisposition. An opening in the skull bone (with a thinning of the skull bone towards the opening) was found on the skull of burial 2. It cannot be determined whether this is trauma caused by a blow injury or a deliberate opening of the skull, or whether the opening was caused by taphonomic processes. A cause for the death of the two children could not be determined. The anthropological examination revealed the following pathological findings: tooth decay, tartar, enamel hypoplasia, Harris lines as well as changes in the legs during burial 1, which can be attributed to a heavy load on the muscles. The report comes to the conclusion that both children were exposed to a diet-related or illness-related stressful situation. This seems to have been the case especially with burial 2 over a longer period of time.

DNA analysis

A DNA analysis was carried out to determine whether the two children were related . In both skeletons, usable DNA was found in the tooth and bone samples. It is assumed that this was protected from destruction by the antibacterial effect of the copper jewelry. The analysis showed that the two children did not have the same mother and were therefore not full siblings. A relationship on the paternal side could not be ruled out. Examination of the nuclear DNA fragments from burial 1 indicates a female individual. However, an incorrect determination cannot be completely ruled out, since the nuclear DNA could not be reproduced due to the strong fragmentation .

Hill 2

location

The grave is on the "Horres" corridor near Reinheim, at an altitude of 220.02 m above sea level. NN. ( Map ) 49.141071 7.199094

Finding

During the excavations, part of a circular trench was cut at a depth of approx. 0.4 meters. This represents the boundary of a burial mound that was estimated to be 10 meters in diameter. Further excavations could not be carried out here, as the center of the grave is under the road 105 that passes by.

Hill 3

location

The grave is on the "Horres" corridor near Reinheim, at a height of 219.30 m above sea level. NN. ( Map ) 49.140968 7.198196

Finding

From this burial parts of the skull, the lower jaw with teeth, vertebrae and rib fragments, fragments of the collarbone and shoulder blade, long bones of the upper and lower extremities , parts of the pelvis and some foot and hand bones have been preserved. The hill is approximately 55 meters from hill 1. A rectangular pit measuring 2.60 meters × 1.00 meters was uncovered. The pit was worked about 15 cm deep into the limestone rock. In the postulated wooden coffin measuring 2.20 x 0.7 meters, a skeleton was found lying on your back with your hands folded over your stomach. The individual wore a bronze arm ring on both forearms and an iron fibula on his chest. The finds are in detail:

two solid, open arm rings made of bronze with hook-and-eye closures, line group decoration and rounded cross-section (diameter: 6.4 cm; thickness: 0.2 cm)
an iron brooch (spring Laatène scheme)

Anthropological opinion

The poor state of preservation of the bones and teeth allows only a limited age determination. Both the Lovejoy method and the Miles method were used for the determination. The age of 17 to 25 years according to Miles was taken as the most probable age. A determination of the body size could not be carried out due to the poor condition of the long bones present. The relatively delicate bone structure and some features of the skull give clues to gender . In addition, the lateral angle of the inner auditory canal was determined to determine the gender (this method determines the angle between the wall of the auditory canal and the face. Angles below 45 ° speak for a male individual; angles greater than 45 ° for a female individual. ). This measurement showed an angle of more than 45 °. Along with the above traits, this suggests a female individual. Tartar deposits could be identified as pathological changes. Statements on possible illnesses or the cause of death could not be made due to the poor condition of the bones.

DNA analysis

Examination of the nuclear DNA fragments from the funeral suggests a female individual. However, an incorrect determination cannot be completely ruled out, since the nuclear DNA could not be reproduced due to the strong fragmentation . A comparison with the DNA analysis of the two burials from Hill 1 showed that the burial from Hill 3 cannot be the mother of the two burials and there is also no full sibling. However, a relationship on the paternal side cannot be ruled out.

Overall view

Although the determination of the sex of the two children could not be 100% determined by the anthropological report and the DNA analysis, based on the archaeological findings of the jewelry worn, burial 1 as an approx. 12 to 14 year old girl with a Body height between 144 cm to 145 cm and burial 2 can be postulated as a 10 to 11 year old boy with a height of approx. 134 cm to 139 cm. The decisive factor is that the wearing of arm and foot rings on both sides has not yet been found in Celtic graves of male individuals. Wearing a single arm ring was a status symbol among male members of the Celtic ruling class. The DNA analysis showed that the two children were not descended from the same mother. However, it could not be proven whether both children had the same father. It is thus certain that there is no full sibling. In the case of the burial from Hill 3, based on the indications of the anthropological report and the archaeological findings of the jewelry worn, it is certain that the woman is about 17 to 25 years old. A comparison of the DNA of all three burials shows that the woman from Hill 3 is not the mother of the two children from the double grave. There is also no full sibling between the three burials. It remains unclear whether the children and the wife are descended from the same father. According to archaeological findings, the two children were buried at the same time. The question raised by this fact as to whether the burial is an following into the dead cannot be answered conclusively. Although the two children are of an engagement or marriageable age, the prerequisite would be that the two children were not half-siblings, i.e. did not have the same biological father. This could not be proven by the DNA analysis.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Walter Reinhard: Celts, Romans and Teutons in Bliesgau. Preservation of monuments in Saarland 3, Foundation European Cultural Park Bliesbrück-Reinheim, 1st edition 2010, ISBN 9783981159127 , pp. 217–230.
^ Early Celtic double burial for children at: www.arctron.de, accessed on November 3, 2018
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Nicole Nicklisch, Barbara Bramanti, Kurt Werner Alt: On the anthropology of the early La Tène skeleton finds from Hill 1 and Hill 3 by Reinheim "Horres". In: Walter Reinhard: Celts, Romans and Teutons in Bliesgau. Preservation of monuments in Saarland 3, Foundation European Cultural Park Bliesbrück-Reinheim, 1st edition 2010, ISBN 9783981159127 , pp. 231–243.
^ CO Lovejoy: Dental wear in Libben population: Its functional pattern an role in determination of adult skeletal age at death. In: American Journal of Physical Anthropology 68, 1985, pp. 47-56.
^ AEW Miles: The dentition in the assessment of inductive age in skeletal material. In: DR Brothwell: Dental anthropology. Symposia of the Society for Study of Human Biology. Oxford 1985.
↑ M. Graw, J. Wahl, HAT Haffner, M. Ahlbrecht: The course of the internal auditory canal as a criterion for gender diagnosis. In: Forensic Medicine Suppl. 8. 1988.
↑ Walter Reinhard: New necropolis of the early La Tène period by Reinheim Horres . District administration Saarpfalz-Kreis. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
↑ Walter Reinhard: Succession among the Celts. In: Preservation of monuments in Saarland 3rd Foundation European Cultural Park Bliesbrück-Reinheim, 1st edition 2010, ISBN 9783981159127 , pp. 248–249.

[reinhard2010-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Walter Reinhard: Celts, Romans and Teutons in Bliesgau. Preservation of monuments in Saarland 3, Foundation European Cultural Park Bliesbrück-Reinheim, 1st edition 2010, ISBN 9783981159127 , pp. 217–230.

[laser-2] Early Celtic double burial for children at: www.arctron.de, accessed on November 3, 2018

[anthropologie-3] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Nicole Nicklisch, Barbara Bramanti, Kurt Werner Alt: On the anthropology of the early La Tène skeleton finds from Hill 1 and Hill 3 by Reinheim "Horres". In: Walter Reinhard: Celts, Romans and Teutons in Bliesgau. Preservation of monuments in Saarland 3, Foundation European Cultural Park Bliesbrück-Reinheim, 1st edition 2010, ISBN 9783981159127 , pp. 231–243.

[4] CO Lovejoy: Dental wear in Libben population: Its functional pattern an role in determination of adult skeletal age at death. In: American Journal of Physical Anthropology 68, 1985, pp. 47-56.

[5] AEW Miles: The dentition in the assessment of inductive age in skeletal material. In: DR Brothwell: Dental anthropology. Symposia of the Society for Study of Human Biology. Oxford 1985.

[6] M. Graw, J. Wahl, HAT Haffner, M. Ahlbrecht: The course of the internal auditory canal as a criterion for gender diagnosis. In: Forensic Medicine Suppl. 8. 1988.

[7] Walter Reinhard: New necropolis of the early La Tène period by Reinheim Horres . District administration Saarpfalz-Kreis. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

[8] Walter Reinhard: Succession among the Celts. In: Preservation of monuments in Saarland 3rd Foundation European Cultural Park Bliesbrück-Reinheim, 1st edition 2010, ISBN 9783981159127 , pp. 248–249.