Dürrnberg Research Department – archaeology of a European Iron Age center

All scientific topics and archaeological issues concerning the Dürrnberg hills and the regional prehistoric era are dealt with by the Dürrnberg Research Department. In order to achieve that, all archaeological sources uncovered on the Dürrnberg hills, either by way of excavation or prospection, are evaluated. A reconstruction of living and working conditions in the Iron Age “special economic zone” of 2500 years ago is achieved by evaluation of building floor plans in settlements, tombs of the necropolis, salt mines as well as thousands of finds, recovered during settlement, tomb, and mining archaeology work.

Due to the close proximity of settlements, burial sites and economic areas (salt mining) the Dürrnberg location features an enormous potential for a comprehensive reconstruction of prehistoric habitats. This unique presence of various sources in one single place qualifies the site as one of central position within the archaeology of Europe. In the period between the 6th and 1st century B.C. hundreds of individuals of both sexes and all age groups were buried in collective burial sites as well as in secondary burials.

The analysis of burial objects as well as burial rites is a central concern of the Dürrnberg Research Department and is being carried out in close interdisciplinary cooperation with anthropology, archaeometry and also archaeozoology. Traces of Iron Age residential areas are being documented in various research evaluation projects and are enriched by cutting edge findings from archaeological excavations. Mining archaeology deals with below ground traces of Iron Age mining, thus revealing unique glimpses of economic life and habitats of prehistoric civilization.

Research results are gained by close interdisciplinary cooperation between paleoanthropology, archaeozoology, paleoethnobotany and archaeometry. They form the basis of comprehensive monographic publications and scientific journal articles and are presented at expert conferences and conventions. The Dürrnberg Research Department constitutes the scientific branch of the museum and is in charge of implementation of the findings.