Die latènezeitlichen Funde von Dünsberg

Since 1906 finds and features have been documented on the Dünsberg near Gießen, a hill some 500 m high and surrounded by an enormous triple fortification of some 90 ha with banks of up to 10 m in height. However, they long remained unpublished. Now this study presents the material of the early excavations 1906/12, the metal detector finds of the 1980s, and the small finds of the 1999-2001 campaigns. Apart from some 600 so-called “house platforms” and timber water basins no relevant building features have been documented yet. The numerous finds comprise pottery, fibulae, jewellery, horse gear, waggon parts, wooden and metal vessels, tools, instruments, and small sculpture as well as 235 belt components, 76 coins, and 289 weapons [sword, shield, cuirass, helmet, projectile points], not least thanks to the “battle at gate 4" perhaps connected to Roman conquest [Drusus in 11/9 B. C.?]. The Dünsberg had been occupied since Lt C1 and was the only oppidum on the right bank of the River Rhine whose occupation outlasted 50 B. C. and reached Lt D2 [phase of arched brooches Almgren 18]. Late coins characterise this phase, that was often considered “Germanic”, as Celtic.