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So I've been in Stuttgart since last week, working on a story, but I thought I'd give you a bit of a taster of the stuff I've been looking at.
It all starts around 530BCE, in southern Germany, near the village of Hochdorf...
It all starts around 530BCE, in southern Germany, near the village of Hochdorf...
A rich, powerful man died. We don't know his name, we don't know how much land he owned, what he called his people, or anything like that.
We do know he was huge - 2m, possibly suffering acromegaly. He was striking and fabulously wealthy. He died sometime in the summer. /2
We do know he was huge - 2m, possibly suffering acromegaly. He was striking and fabulously wealthy. He died sometime in the summer. /2
Over the next couple of months, a burial chamber, then a huge mound was built. For much of the process, people could access the worksite and watch the proceedings from a platform.
Finally, he was sealed in, with some fantastic treasures. /3
Finally, he was sealed in, with some fantastic treasures. /3
Among the treasures were his wagon, drinking horns, a huge cauldron and a bronze couch.
He was adorned in gold, from his neck, to his wrists, to his shoes.
This, btw, is the reconstruction at the museum on the site. /4
He was adorned in gold, from his neck, to his wrists, to his shoes.
This, btw, is the reconstruction at the museum on the site. /4
On Friday, I went to talk to Thomas Höppe, curator of pre-Roman finds at @LMWStuttgart, to explore the significance of the finds, and what they meant for our ideas of how ancient Europeans interacted with the next life.
Our conversation was... extraordinary! /5
Our conversation was... extraordinary! /5
As for what I found out, you'll have to keep an eye on @ExploreWellcome. They kindly asked me to do some exploring for them.
Look forward to learning just how advanced and cosmopolitan our ancestors were later this year! /FIN
Look forward to learning just how advanced and cosmopolitan our ancestors were later this year! /FIN
