The Großmugl burial mound
Historical sites
Description
The Wienviertel is home to the highest burial mound of the entire Hallstatt culture (750 to 450 BC), the 14 metre high tumulus of Großmugl.
The burial mound stands out so prominently from the surrounding flat ground that the nearby village was even named after it (the first documented mention in 1298 refers to the village as Grassemugl, meaning large steep hill). The tumulus (a mound over a grave) was first recorded by scientists in 1871, but it has not been excavated to date. And although this will not change in the foreseeable future, the large burial mound is still the focus of archaeological research. Thanks to modern non-destructive survey methods, archaeologists were able to document an extensive ritual site near the mound. A project is now underway to conduct in-depth investigations into this Iron Age settlement and ritual landscape around Großmugl.
The ruler’s grave
The large mound is likely to be the burial place of a powerful ruler. His seat was probably on the Steinberg near Ernstbrunn, where there were extensive fortifications. Largely undocumented, the royal residence was destroyed by a quarry in the 20th century. The mound could clearly be seen from the residence and was perhaps intended to mark the boundary of the ruler’s domain.
Another burial mound
A small elevation can be seen directly to the west of the more conspicuous burial mound; this is a second, much smaller tumulus. Archaeological examination of this resting place, known as the ‘Queen’s Grave’, took place in the 1950s, with archaeologists documenting the remains of wooden grave fixtures. Although the grave had already been plundered by robbers in ancient times, archaeologists were still able to recover numerous clay vessels from the grave, including several decorated with bull heads. One of the most impressive finds is a carved rider and horse figure. Excavations in the settlement belonging to the burial mounds were carried out in the nearby ‘Totenweg’ site. The most striking find here is what is known as a ‘moon idol’, probably a firedog with ram’s head ends and sun wheels.
Tip: finds from Großmugl are on display in a number of museums, including the Natural History Museum in Vienna, the District Museum in Stockerau and MAMUZ Schloss Asparn/Zaya.
