Hohmichele, Iron Age burial mound in Altheim, Germany
Hohmichele is an Iron Age burial mound near Altheim with a diameter of approximately 85 meters and a height of about 13 meters. The interior contains multiple burial chambers, with the central chamber built from oak and holding various archaeological finds.
The mound was built during the early Iron Age, around the 7th and 6th centuries BC, as a burial place for several high-status individuals. Excavations starting in 1936 uncovered a total of 13 burials with substantial grave goods, confirming the importance of these people.
The mound reveals how high-ranking families of the early Iron Age buried their dead with valuable objects alongside them. The recovered items such as horse equipment and glass beads show the wealth and distant trade connections of these people.
The restored mound sits in a forest clearing about 3.5 kilometers west of Heuneburg and is easily accessible on foot. Informational signs at the site explain its archaeological importance and help visitors understand the structure of the mound.
More than twenty fireplaces were discovered inside the mound, suggesting ceremonial activities took place during burial practices. This unusual concentration of hearths indicates that the funeral itself may have been a complex ritual with several stages.
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