The Bronze Age settlement in Stillfried

From the Bronze Age onwards, an important trade route brought power and prosperity to a heavily fortified settlement in Stillfried.

A fortified settlement covering almost 23 ha was located on the hill above the village of Stillfried at the end of the Bronze Age, the late Urnfield culture (900 to 750 BC). A section of the trade route that would come to be known as the Amber Road already ran along the Morava here in the Bronze Age. Having control of this trade road undoubtedly brought considerable importance and great prosperity to the settlement.

The growth of the settlement
Archaeological investigations began as early as 1874, but the first systematic excavations only started in 1969. Archaeologists were able to identify a total of six settlement phases, of which four date back to the Late Bronze Age and two to the subsequent Early Iron Age or Hallstatt culture (750 to 450 BC).
The first settlement at the beginning of the tenth century BC was unfortified; subsequently, a sturdy wooden palisade was built, which was replaced slightly later by an earth wall. This wall was frequently reinforced and is still around 4 m high today. Excavation of the settlement mainly uncovered pit houses and numerous settlement pits. To the south of the village was a burial ground for cremations, which were customary at that time and from which the name of the period – Urnfield culture (1200 to 750 BC) – is derived.

The oldest zoo
The discovery of two groups of human remains – first seven, and then no fewer than 21 skeletons – caused quite a stir. These were found in two large abandoned storage pits. It appears that the people, who were very tall and well nourished, had met a violent end. However, the theory that they belonged to the family of a deposed and murdered ruler cannot be proven. In other pits, skeletons of wild animals were found that exhibited typical characteristics of zoo animals kept in inappropriate conditions. These are probably remains from the oldest known zoo, which was kept by the local ruler in order to impress people.

Tip: selected objects from the excavations are on display at the Stillfried Museum – Centre of Prehistoric Times.