Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY - Gábor ILON: Celtic period fortifitations and an experiment to reconstruct the rampart - Gór (Vas county)

Gábor ILON CELTIC PERIOD FORTIFICATIONS AND AN EXPERIMENT TO RECONSTRUCT THE RAMPART - GÓR (VAS COUNTY) Abstract: A Celtic fortification, partially destroyed by a dam construction, was unearthed on the Kápolnadomb (= Chapel hill) at Gór. The fortification had a rampart with timber lace structure. The data collected during the excavations allowed the reconstruction of this rampart. I4

C dates derived from charcoal samples attest to a relatively long survival of Celts at this site. Keywords: Celts, timber-lacing, rampart reconstruction, С dating. Rescue excavations were carried out at Gór - Kápolna hill, between 1988 and 1993, prior to the construction of a water reservoir. Accordingly, rescue excavations only covered the northern part of the hill (Fig. 1). Dirt from the excavated area had been removed, and this earth was built into the dam of the water reservoir. The River Repce was rerouted from the bottom of the hill to a new basin established farther away. Approximately one quarter of the originally cca 4 ha large hill was explored, partly on its previouslyintact surfaces. The remaining southern part of the hill, is occupied by a Roman Catholic church and a functioning cemetery. The excavations revealed settlement and burial features from the following periods: 1. Settlement remains of the Neolithic Transdanubian Linear Pottery Culture. 2. From the Bronze Age, the finds from the Late Bronze Urnfield Culture are the most significant. The earlier published (ILON 1992, ILON 1996) moulds and their fragments, together with various implements for mould making(!) and for bronzesmithy deserve special attention. A metal working workshop and sections of houses were unearthed. Human remains were found in several pits. 3. It was only artifacts that survived from the Early Iron Age settlement. The climate and natural as well as cultural vegetations of the latter two periods are well known from earlier excavations (GYULAI 1993: 38-39, Fig. 2, Tab. 3; GYULAI-TORMA 1996). 4. The Celts settled on the hill. In addition to their fortification system, a complete potter's workshop and a few other features have been unearthed. 5. During the Roman Period, a smaller lookout spot may have existed on the hill, as is suggested by the small number of finds. At this time, or during the migration Period (Early Germanic?)

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, a woman was buried here in a lonely grave. 6. In the Árpád Period, a small timber castle (DÉNES 1990) stood at the edge of the hill. Settlement traces from the Late Middle Ages have also been detected. The find material that weighed several tons is being restored but was poorly preserved which, among others, hinders computerised analysis. To date, partial results are available from the malacological, archaeozoological, arhaeobotanical (micro- and macrobotanical remains) and physical anthropological analyses. The evaluation of metal analyses is in progress. Sixteen radiocarbon datings were made. The technical analysis of stone raw materials and sherds (BIRÓ 1995) are close to being accomplished. The complete publication of the entire site can be expected in a few years. 1 Mária T. Bíró identified the only find with dating value in the grave: the thick comb originates from the Roman Period. 227