In a brilliant archaeological find on the Danube Plain near Riedlingen, southwestern Germany, a Celtic burial chamber has been painstakingly unearthed. Likely an elite burial from early Celtic society, it is situated at the heart of a large burial mound – an imposing structure spanning 65 meters (213 feet) in diameter. Standing at nearly 2 meters (6.5 feet) high today, archaeologists believe that in its original form, it would have towered over 6 meters (nearly 20 feet)!
Princely Burial Mound of the Region!
Such dimensions categorize it among the “princely burial mounds” of the region, dating back to between 620 and 450 BC, a time when such elaborate tombs were reserved for the highest-ranking members of Celtic society in southwestern Germany. Generally, elite Celtic burials were reserved for individuals of high social status such as warriors, chieftains, or princes.
The burial practices often included the use of wooden chambers or stone constructions, with elaborate feasting rituals sometimes accompanying the burial. These tombs were designed not only to honor the dead but also to display the prestige of the family.
Overview photo of the exposed burial chamber with chamber walls and chamber floor. (© State Office for Monument Preservation in the Stuttgart Regional Council/Jörn Heimann)
“The newly discovered burial chamber is an outstanding testimony to our rich monument landscape. It is still completely preserved 2,600 years after its creation,” said the State Secretary in the Ministry…
