Die urnenfelder- und hallstattzeitliche Siedlung "Kanal I" und das frühhallstattzeitliche Gräberfeld "Am Urnenfeld" von Kelheim

Between 1976 and 1986, excavations were conducted prior to the construction of the Main-Danube-Canal, revealing an area that was an island at the confluence of the Altmühl and Danube rivers during the Urnfield and Hallstatt periods. The site "Kanal I" uncovered an Urnfield and Early Hallstatt settlement that began concurrently with the notable cemetery in Ha A2, thrived in Ha B, and concluded in Ha D1. The artifacts indicate connections to the Eastern Urnfield Culture of southern Upper Palatinate and Lower Bavaria, with a shift in contacts towards the northwest during the Hallstatt period. The settlement featured single and double-aisled post buildings and two ring ditches, with a gradual westward movement into lower areas. At the "Am Urnenfeld" site, an Urnfield settlement and 36 Early Hallstatt graves were excavated, likely part of the larger cemetery. Analysis of the burials revealed that adults were cremated while infants were inhumated. The quantity of vessels and the structure of the graves provided insights into the community's social hierarchy, with all datable graves belonging to phase Ha C.