Das Druidenrätsel vom Kugelstein in der Steiermark

TITLE: Das Druidenrätsel vom Kugelstein  in der Steiermark

(The druid’s mystery from Kugelstein in Styria)

Authors: Mitja GUŠTIN – Dragan BOŽIČ

DOI: 10.17846/SHN.2019.23.S.93-105

Publication order reference:

Mitja Guštin, Pusterla 7, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia, mail: mitja.gustin@upr.si;

Dragan Božič, Znanstvenoraziskovalni center SAZU, Inštitut za arheologijo, Novi trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, mail: dragan.bozic@zrc-sazu.si

Source: Studia Historica Nitriensia, year: 2019, vol.: 23, number: Supplementum, pages: 93-105

Abstract: The mountain ridge of Kugelstein rises above the right bank of the river Mur between Frohnleiten and Deutschfeistritz in central Styria, Austria. Located at its northern end, at an altitude of 544 m asl, is a prehistoric and Roman hillfort of Kugelstein, which dominates the Mur in its narrow stretch near Badl. A 2 km long area to the west of the mountain ridge was systematically surveyed between 1980 and 1985, unearthing more than 400 artefacts mainly made of iron. Most are weapons and military equipment or their parts. The finds predominantly date to LT B2 and are kept in the Burgmuseum Archeo Norico Deutschlandsberg. They are presumed to be the remains of a military conflict, making the area a battlefield. The contribution only discusses part of the finds, which came to light on a small terrace, called Druidenplatz, in the eastern zone of the investigated area. The finds date to LT B2. Most are made of iron (weapons, military equipment, fibulae, eight pointed rods – possibly surgical instruments), only two of bronze that include a small figure of a bull. They may have belonged to a single warrior, such as those called druids in later periods.

Keywords: STYRIA; KUGELSTEIN; BATTLEFIELD; LATE IRON AGE; DRUIDS;

Language: GERMAN