Early Iron Age Graves and Burial - History of Hallstatt Europe #shorts

The practice of burying the dead with grave goods isn’t new in the Iron age, but it definitely reaches its zenith, coming to the 7th century BC. Now, more than ever, people in the heart of Europe wanted not only a life of fame, but also to be glorified in death.

Graves and methods of burial varied from region to region. Deceased could be buried within tumuli or burial mounds that served not just a final resting place, but as a communal monument. These signified to new arrivals the greatness and legacy of local inhabitants.

Individual tumulus hosted the remains of an extended family, while a cluster of tumuli probably signaled a clan or another larger social group. In the western Hallstatt area, chariot burial was also granted to the most renowned warriors.

Presumably, different families and clans fought for leadership of a wider community.

While the status of buried men is mostly expressed through battle gear, we can assume that different status of women can be determined by the different types of jewelry and other accessories. These grave goods marked the deceased person’s achievements and identity.

A ritualistic destruction of a warrior’s weapons before the burial was another common occurrence throughout the Iron Age. Added pottery was often brand new, made specifically for the burial and an accompanying ritual

In other areas, the remains would be burnt and placed in urns, buried either under gravel or in flat cemeteries, covered with a stone slab. Inhumed bodies could also be found next to inurned ones.
The cremation and urn burial show the relation to the old, Late Bronze Age Urnfield culture.

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Edited with Vegas Pro Edit 19

#history #europe #ironage #archeology #ancienthistory #shorts