Celtic burial ground

Celtic burial ground

Between 300 and 250 BCE, Celts invaded the Alpine region and seized control. They formed the Noric Kingdom (Regnum Noricum). An important raw material was iron, which was mined in the Görtschitz Valley. Roman writers report the city of Noreia, which was the Celtic capital. The exact location of Noreia has not been conclusively determined to this day. The Noricans probably had a central sanctuary at the summit of Magdalensberg. The Celts lived on estates and also in larger lowland settlements throughout the country. The largest Celtic burial ground in Carinthia to date, with a total of 62 burials, was uncovered in the Granitz Valley. It dates from 250 to 150 BCE. The dead were cremated and buried in urns. The graves provide insights into social structures. Some men‘s graves with swords and lances suggest a class of higher-ranking warriors. Women of comparable rank were buried with precious jewellery. A climbing iron, a bronze torc with a clay core, and a brooch with a mask appliqué are among the most notable finds from the burial ground. The location of the associated settlement is unknown. Based on the size and furnishings, it is assumed to have been a clan burial.