The Ramsaukopf, a Celtic administrativ center on Dürrnberg?

The Dürrnberg near Hallein is one of the most important sites of Celtic archeology in Central Europe. Famous for ist extensive and rich cemetaries dating to both the Early (Hallstatt) and Later (La Tène) Iron Age and ist prehistoric salt-mines, the Dürrnberg is also of outstanding significance in the field of settlemtent archeology. Among the Iron Age settlement sites on the Dürrnberg the Ramsukopf is of special interest. It is an easily defendable hillock protected by ist steep flanks controlling the only natural aproach to the Dürrnberg itself. Because of ist obvious strategic importance and ist well preserved settlement terasses still visible all over the hill archeologists as early as the 1920`s tried to identify the Ramsaukopf as the living quarter of the local gentry and at the same time the administrativ center of the Dürrnberg`s salt mining industry. Parallels to other fortified sites of the celtic iron Age were pointed out. Unfortunately there has been no proof of a fortified position on the Ramsaukopf up till today. The few excavations that have taken place so far were of limited dimension and could neither prove the existence of a fortification nor help to establish an undisputed chronology for the site. The current project of the Austrian Research Center Dürrnberg (ÖFD) plans to start excavations on the Ramsaukopf and ist neighbouring peak the Putzenkopf in 2003. With the help of FWF the results of these excavations will be published and presented to a wider audience in the form of an exhibition. For 2004 excavations are planned at a second site on Dürrnberg`s Moserstein where another iron Age settlement is located. The results are to be linked to those gained on the Ramsaukopf and published as well. The project also comprises the restoration of the more than 2000 Celtic artefacts collected on the surface of the Ramsaukopf so far, many of which are of high quality supporting the idea of an administrative center on the site. In the course of the project modern surveying will be done on several settlement sites on the Dürrnberg. The data collected during surveying and axcavating will be linked in a Geographical Information System (GIS).

The Dürrnberg near Hallein is one of the most important archaeological sites in Austria. It is famous for its numerous graves dating to the Hallstatt and Laten period and the salt mines of a similar date. Among the graves are several richly furnished burials that are referred to as "princely tombs". For several years Archaeologists have tried to establish the location for the settlement of this "princely" element of Dürrnbergs population in the Iron Age. Due to its strategic position, guarding the natural approach to Dürrnberg Ramsaukopf, a hill an the Dürrberg site, has been proposed as a possible location for a "princely" settlement. The common view was of a fortified site an top of Ramsaukopf hill and a workers settlement at its foot. The aim of the research project was to prove if this view is correct. In a first step a terrain model of the research area was created, making it possible to establish the precise location and size of the settlement areas. During this work it became obvious, that there is no prove for any fortifications. Wherever the terrain allowed it, a geomagnetic survey took place. During the three years of the project archaeological excavations took place an Ramsaukopf itself, an nearby Putzenkopf and an area referred to as Putzenfeld. The results of the excavations, together with the analysis of previously discovered artefacts made it possible to redraw the picture of the settlement area. In the 4th century B.C. salt mining an Dürrnberg increased. This made it necessary to create a fitting infrastructure and led to an increased population. To create sufficient room for work and living every usable, that is flat, surface was used for building. Yet this seemed not offer enough room to the thriving community. Therefore artificial terraces were created in locations that otherwise could not have used. It is interesting to note, that these terraces were built an top of older burials indicating the lack of room available. Even the steep slopes of Ramsaukopf were used to make more space available. Ramsaukopf is not a "princely", fortified site but an integral part of a huge settlement close to the prehistoric salt mines.