Hallstatt culture Facts for Kids

The Hallstatt culture can be split into an eastern an a western part. The dividing line runs through the Czech Republic and Austria, between 14 and 15 degrees east

Drinking Horn from the Hallstatt culture

Brooches found in a grave of the Hallstatt culture

The Hallstatt culture is named after Hallstatt, a city in Austria in which the first artifacts were found. It lasted from about 1200 BC to about 275 BC.

There were different periods that are now told apart mainly by the kinds of brooches used. The brooches changed rather rapidly and permit a good estimate. Hallstatt culture sites have been found in the east of France, in Switzerland, in the south of Germany, in Austria, in Slovenia and Croatia, northwestern Hungary, southwestern Slovakia and southern Moravia.

In this time, the social structure developed into a hierarchy. That can be documented by various things that were added to graves, such as at Magdalenenberg. In the Bronze Age, people lived in big settlements. As iron became available, trade routes changed. A new upper class could establish itself. Unlike before, the upper class liked to live in big houses in the countryside to show their power.

Funerary cults also changed, from cremation burials, to burials with sarcophagi. The new upper class used its wealth for import goods, mostly from the Mediterranean. People started settling there around the 2nd millennium BC.

Hallstatt culture: the real thing. [1]

Images for kids

Watercolour commissioned by Johann G. Ramsauer documenting one of his cemetery digs at Hallstatt.
Model of the Heuneburg, Germany
Vix palace, Mont Lassois, France
Model of a Hallstatt culture settlement at Konigsbrunn, Germany
The Hochdorf Chieftain's Grave, Germany
Hallstatt culture dress, reconstruction, Naturhistorisches Gesellschaft Nürnberg
Typical decoration on a belt-plate
Model of a Hallstatt era farm, Gäuboden Museum
Model of a Hallstatt barrow grave, Germanisches Nationalmuseum
Bronze vessel with cow and calf, Hallstatt
Bronze artefacts from Hallstatt
"Antenna hilt" Hallstatt 'D' swords, from Hallstatt
Ha C axehead, Hallstatt
Finds from the Hallstatt cemetery
Hallstatt grave reconstruction
Fibula brooch with animal figures
Preserved wood stairs from the Hallstatt salt mine
Sword hilt inlaid with ivory and amber.
Gold and bronze beltplates from Hallstatt
Cuirasses and helmet from Kleinklein.
Funerary wagon, Strasbourg Museum
Wagon wheel hub from the Vix Grave
Pottery from Heuneburg, Germany
Amber necklace from the Magdalenenberg
Gold bracelets from Sainte-Colombe-sur-Seine
The Vix krater, imported from Greece
Hallstatt 'C' swords in Wels Museum, Austria.
Dagger with "antenna hilt"
Ceramics and sword with gold hilt from Gomadingen
Metal vessels from Kleinklein
Gold artefacts from the Heuneburg
Burial goods from Oss, Netherlands
Cult wagon from La Côte-Saint-André, France
Late Halstatt gold collar from Austria, c. 550 BC
Gold shoe plaques from Hochdorf
Dagger with gold foil from Hochdorf
The Strettweg Cult Wagon
Replica of the Warrior of Hirschlanden
Armband with engraved decoration
Bull from Býčí skála Cave, Czech Republic
Detail from the Vače situla, Slovenia
Wagon model from Frög, Austria
Drinking horn from Tuttlingen, Germany
Bronze recliner from Hochdorf
Pottery from Hegau, Germany
Ceramic vessel from Donnerskirchen, Austria
Pottery from Hungary, 7th century BC.

Hallstatt culture facts for kids

Images for kids

See also