Hochdorf Chieftain's Grave
The Hochdorf Chieftain's Grave is a richly-furnished Celtic burial chamber near Hochdorf an der Enz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, dating from 530 BC in the Hallstatt culture period. It was discovered in 1968 by an amateur archaeologist and excavated from 1978 to 1979 by the State Historical site office known as the Baden Wurttenbberg Landesdenkmalamt under the direction of German archeologist Jorg Biel with association from excavation technician Fritz Maurer. By then, the burial mound covering the grave, originally 6 m (20 ft) in height and about 60 m (200 ft) in diameter, had shrunk to about 1 m in height and was hardly discernible due to centuries of erosion and agricultural use.
Hochdorf Chieftain's Grave reconstruction
Hochdorf burial mound
View of the Hohenasperg from the Hochdorf burial mound
Reconstruction with gold ornaments and dagger
The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Western and Central European archaeological culture of the Late Bronze Age from the 12th to 8th centuries BC and Early Iron Age Europe from the 8th to 6th centuries BC, developing out of the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC and followed in much of its area by the La Tène culture. It is commonly associated with Proto-Celtic speaking populations.
Documentation of the Hallstatt cemetery excavation, 19th century
Bronze vessel with cow and calf decoration
Bronze artefacts from Hallstatt
Hallstatt grave reconstruction