The Bronze Age settlement in Stillfried

From the Bronze Age onwards, an important trade route ensured that a heavily fortified settlement grew in power and prosperity in Stillfried.

In the late Bronze Age, the late Urnfield culture (900 to 750 BC), there was a fortified settlement of almost 23 hectares on the hill above the village of Stillfried. As early as the Bronze Age, a section of the trade route later known as the "Amber Road" ran here along the March. It is certain that the control of this trade route gave the settlement considerable importance and great prosperity.

The growth of the settlement
Archaeological research began as early as 1874, but the first systematic excavations did not begin until 1969. A total of six settlement phases were identified, four of which date back to the Late Bronze Age and two to the subsequent Early Iron Age or Hallstatt Culture (750 to 450 BC).
The first settlement at the beginning of the 10th century BC was unfortified, later a massive wooden palisade was built, which was replaced a little later by an earth wall. The rampart was repeatedly reinforced and is still around 4 meters high today. Pit houses and numerous settlement pits were excavated in the settlement. To the south of the village there was a burial ground with cremation burials, which was common at the time and from which the period is known as the Urnfield Culture (1200 to 750 BC).

The oldest zoo
The discovery of two groups of human remains - first seven, then 21 skeletons - in two large abandoned storage pits caused a sensation. Apparently the people, who were very tall and well-fed, had died a violent death. However, the theory that this was the family of a deposed and murdered ruler cannot be proven. In other pits, skeletons of wild animals were found that showed typical characteristics of animals not kept in a species-appropriate manner. They are probably the remains of the oldest known zoo, which the local ruler kept in order to make an impression.

Tip: Selected objects from the excavations are on display in the Museum Stillfried - Center of Prehistory.