Urnfield

The Urnfield culture was a culture of central Europe dated between roughly 1300 BC and 600 BC. Their name comes from their custom of cremating the dead and placing them in cemeteries.\n

Table of contents

1 graves 2 settlements 3 material culture

graves

\nThe cremated remains of the deceased and numerous grave gifts were placed in simple pits or stone cists. Sometimes the grave is covered by stones. Often the biggest pot (Dolium) contained the cremated remains. Grave gifts include other pots (bowls, shallow dishes, biconical pots), bronze jewellery and weapons. Swords and spearheads were common grave gifts, a few graves contain remains of bronze armour. Golden grave gifts are known as well. In the late urnfield culture, a few [[chariot burials appear (Hart an der Alz). It seems that the society was not as egalitarian as the uniform burial custom might be taken to imply. The practice of cremation forms a notable break with earlier European Bronze Age cultures, most of which practiced inhumation or burial of the dead. Scholars speculate that this may have marked a fundamental shift in people's beliefs or mythos about life and the afterlife. Hoards in rivers and wet places like swamps were common in urnfield times. As they were often deposited in inaccessible spots, they most probably represent gifts to the Gods. Figures of "water-fowl", most probably ducks, are very common, they probably had a religious significance as well.\n

settlements

\nFortified settlements, often on hilltops or in river-bends, are typical for the urnfield culture. They are heavily fortified with dry-stone or wooden ramparts. Some scholars see the emergence of hill forts as a sign of increased warfare. Excavations of open settlements are rare, but they show that large 3-4 aisled houses built with wooden posts and wall of wattle and daub were common. Pit dwellings are known as well, they might have served as cellars.\n

material culture

\nThe use of iron for weapons and domestic items in Europe began during the Urnfield period, but only became widespread in the following Hallstatt culture. The widespread use of Iron for tools only occurred in the late Iron Age La Tene|La-Téne culture]].\nBronze knifes, razors and axes (palstaves and socketed axes) were common, female ornaments include pins, bracelets and pendants.\n

economy

\nCattle, pigs, sheep and goats were kept, as well as horses and dogs. In agriculture, wheat and barley were planted, together with pulses and the horse-bean. The urnfield-culture saw a widespread forest-clearance, probably open meadows were created for the first time, as shown by pollen-analysis. This led to increased erosion and sediment-load of the rivers.\n

ethnic ascription

\nAs there are no written sources, the languages spoken by the bearers of the urnfield culture is unknown. Some scholars consider them to be the ancestors of the Celts. Certainly the urnfield culture is found in some of the areas were later people who were called "Kelt" by classical author lived. But as we do not know how long processes of ethnogenesis last, and if a common material culture is always to be associated with social and political unity, this is highly contested. \n

related cultures

\nThe eastern European Lusatian culture forms part of the urnfield tradition, but continues into the Iron age without a notable break.