New Projects - Research Report

“…AND THIS IS WHAT YOU`D BE DUMPING?!” PLEASURES AND BURDEN OF COLLECTOR`S PASSION

An exhibition of the Heidelberg School of Education (link: hse.hypotheses.org/869) at the University Library of Heidelberg – Interview with Dr. Holger Wendling M.A., Head of research at Dürrnberg Research Department.

ARCHAEOMETRIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MINERAL JEWELLERY INLAYS FROM DÜRRNBERG NEAR HALLEIN

In cooperation with the Competence Center Archaeometry Baden Württemberg (CCA – BW), Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Prof. Dr. K. Bente, Dr. C. Berthold) archaeometric analyses of coral and glass inlays in iron age pieces of jewelry are carried out. Relevant insights on culture contacts and beliefs of the Celtic civilization in the Dürrnberg hills are gained by way of a scientific analysis and archaeological interpretation of these exotic substances.

Provenance and Colour of La Tène and Hallstatt period fibulae beads. – Poster presentation at the international conference on „archeometry and monument preservation”, Mainz 2015 as well as at the international conference of the AG Eisenzeit, Hallein (AT) 2015.

EXCAVATION PROJECT DÜRRNBERG „HOCHBICHL/EMCO“

An excavation campaign on the Dürrnberg hill top site location Hochbichl, led by the firm ARDIG GesmbH, under the scientific supervision of Dürrnberg Research Department has revealed new findings on the settlement structure of the Iron Age era on Dürrnberg. Modern construction plans in the outer area of EMCO private clinic necessitated archaeological excavations that brought to light Iron Age settlement remains.

Remains of prehistoric settlements were preserved as post pits, small ditches, pits, dry stone walls and pit houses under a cultural layer rich in ceramic and small finds. Next to a limited number of Neolithic flint artefacts and some prehistoric, pre-Iron Age ceramic fragments difficult to date, the findings indicate the existence of settlements from late Hallstatt Period across Early and Middle Latène Period until the Late Latène Period. A concentration must have existed on the advanced Medium Latène Period (Phase LT C2) and in the Late Latène Period (Phase LT D1). Sporadic findings dating back to Roman times have been uncovered. Several modern times artefacts are detectable in relation to the agricultural holding that stood on the same area prior to the establishment of the EMCO clinic. With a surface of more than 1000 m2 this has so far been the largest coherent surface that has been excavated on the Dürrnberg hill top site.

Even though findings dating back to earlier Latène period have been uncovered on various spots of the Dürrnberg site, the large number of finds on this particular site, as well as their high quality, indicates the existence of a central settlement of the Dürrnberg in that location. More evidence is given by the proven existence of small ditch structures, pits, traces of post pits, buildings as well as signs of a possible architectural entrance structure of the settlement.

A. & F. Preinfalk/H. Wendling, KG Dürnberg, SG Hallein. Grabungsbericht. Fundber. Österreich 54, 2015, 328–331.