Abstract:

There is a cluster of Early Iron Age (800–500 BC) elite burials in the Low Countries in which bronze vessels, weaponry, horse-gear and wagons were interred as grave goods. Mostly imports from Central Europe, these objects are found brought together in varying configurations in cremation burials generally known as chieftains’ graves or princely burials. In terms of grave goods they resemble the Fürstengräber of the Hallstatt Culture of Central Europe, with famous Dutch and Belgian examples being the Chieftain’s grave of Oss, the wagon-grave of Wijchen and the elite cemetery of Court-St-Etienne.

The majority of the Dutch and Belgian burials were found several decades to several centuries ago and context information tends to be limited. They also tend to be published in Dutch or French or otherwise difficult to access publications. This research went back to the original reports and studied the objects found in these graves in detail. This generated new and evidence-based insights and interpretations into these exceptional burials and allowed for the reconstruction of the individual burial rituals. Fragmenting the Chieftain – Catalogue presents the first comprehensive overview of the Dutch and Belgian elite graves (in English) and the objects they contain.

The results of an in-depth and practice-based archaeological analysis of the Dutch and Belgian elite graves and the burial practice through which they were created can be found in Fragmenting the Chieftain. A practice-based study of Early Iron Age Hallstatt C elite burials in the Low Countries.

Contents

C1 Introduction
C2 Terminology and typology
C3 Revealing restorations
C4 Baarlo
C5 Basse-Wavre
C6 Court-St-Etienne
C7 Darp-Bisschopsberg
C8 Ede-Bennekom
C9 Flobecq-Pottelberg Tombelle 78
C10 Gedinne-Chevaudos
C11 Haps grave 190
C12 Harchies-Maison Cauchies
C13 Havré
C14 Heythuizen-Bisschop
C15 Hofstade-Kasteelstraat Sp. 16
C16 Horst-Hegelsom
C17 La Plantée des Dames
C18 Leesten-Meijerink grave 1
C19 Limal-Morimoine
C20 Lommel-Kattenbos Tombelle 20
C21 Louette-St-Pierre Fosse-Aux-Morts
C22 Maastricht-Heer
C23 Meerlo
C24 Meppen
C25 Neerharen-Rekem tombe 72
C26 Oss-Vorstengraf
C27 Oss-Zevenbergen
C28 Rhenen-Koerheuvel
C29 Someren-Kraayenstark
C30 Someren-Philipscamping
C31 Stoquoy Tombelle 5
C32 Uden-Slabroek
C33 Venlo
C34 Weert-Boshoverheide
C35 Wijchen
Bibliography
CA1 Hallstatt period textile finds from the Netherlands
CA2 Inventory Chieftain’s grave of Oss through three restorations