Das Druidenrätsel vom Kugelstein in der Steiermark
The Druid's Mystery from Kugelstein in Styria
Author(s): Mitja Guštin, Dragan BožićSubject(s): Archaeology, Local History / Microhistory, Military history, Social history, Ancient World
Published by: Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre, Filozofická fakulta
Keywords: Styria; Kugelstein; battlefield; Late Iron Age; druids;
Summary/Abstract: The mountain ridge of Kugelstein rises above the right bank of the river Mur between Frohnleiten and Deutschfeistritz in central Styria, Austria. Located at its northern end, at an altitude of 544 m asl, is a prehistoric and Roman hillfort of Kugelstein, which dominates the Mur in its narrow stretch near Badl. A 2 km long area to the west of the mountain ridge was systematically surveyed between 1980 and 1985, unearthing more than 400 artefacts mainly made of iron. Most are weapons and military equipment or their parts. The finds predominantly date to LT B2 and are kept in the Burgmuseum Archeo Norico Deutschlandsberg. They are presumed to be the remains of a military conflict, making the area a battlefield. The contribution only discusses part of the finds, which came to light on a small terrace, called Druidenplatz, in the eastern zone of the investigated area. The finds date to LT B2. Most are made of iron (weapons, military equipment, fibulae, eight pointed rods - possibly surgical instruments), only two of bronze that include a small figure of a bull. They may have belonged to a single warrior, such as those called druids in later periods.
Journal: Studia Historica Nitriensia
- Issue Year: 23/2019
- Issue No: SUPPL.
- Page Range: 93-105
- Page Count: 13
- Language: German