In 1977, an amateur archaeologist wandering the fields near Hochdorf, Germany stumbled across an ancient burial mound that had been plowed away to the point that the burial chamber itself was exposed. He reported his find to the authorities, and a major archaeological excavation followed.
The burial turned out to be that of an Iron Age magnate who died around 530 BC. He was laid to rest on a bronze couch 9 feet long, which rests on wheels shaped as female unicyclists.
He wore a gold ring arond his neck, and his shoes were covered in gold leaf.
Instead of weapons and armor, he was surrounded by the makings of a fabulous feast: a giant cauldron bronze that was half full of mead, gold and silver dishes, drinking horns.
He was probably a Celtic king, although it is disputed whether the word Celtic has much meaning for that period, and also whether these tribes had kings. The graves of two centuries later were always full of weapons, but in this period drinking paraphernalia got bigger play than swords.
In 1977, an amateur archaeologist wandering the fields near Hochdorf, Germany stumbled across an ancient burial mound that had been plowed away to the point that the burial chamber itself was exposed. He reported his find to the authorities, and a major archaeological excavation followed. The burial turned out to be that of an Iron Age magnate who died around 530 BC. He was laid to rest on a bronze couch 9 feet long, which rests on wheels shaped as female unicyclists.
He wore a gold ring arond his neck, and his shoes were covered in gold leaf.
Instead of weapons and armor, he was surrounded by the makings of a fabulous feast: a giant cauldron bronze that was half full of mead, gold and silver dishes, drinking horns.
He was probably a Celtic king, although it is disputed whether the word Celtic has much meaning for that period, and also whether these tribes had kings. The graves of two centuries later were always full of weapons, but in this period drinking paraphernalia got bigger play than swords.
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