Thread by @MikeStuchbery_

Awesome! Archaeologists have excavated an entire Celt grave from the ground on the Heuneburg, near Herbertingen, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

Let me tell you why this 'Keltenblock' matters. /1

First, the Heuneburg is a very significant site. It shows evidence of settlement over centuries, during the Iron Age. What's more, unlike the vast majority of Celt settlements, this appears to resemble a 'city' - a large trading and residential complex. /2

Indeed, Heuneburg bills itself as 'the first place/city in Germany'. It could be the very first city in northern Europe. Herodotus, the Greek historian, appears to refer to it as 'Pyrene' - a large trading centre. /3

Along with the digs on the Heuneburg mound itself, grave mounds have been found surrounding the city - the resting place of important figures.

Until very recently, these were very hard to excavate without damaging or destroying. /4

In 2010, a very unique excavation took place. Knowing that the ground was frozen in the depths of winter, archaeologists cut the burial chamber out of the ground in one piece.

This was known as the 'Keltenblock'. /5

The 'Keltenblock' was then driven to the town of Ludwigsburg, where it was excavated and taken apart over the course of months to reveal the grave of a woman, complete with beautiful gold jewelry. /6

Buoyed by the success of the first 'Keltenblock', this week, another grave was cut out of the ground - after weeks of preparation - and taken to Ludwigsburg. /7

Already, archaeologists have found tubular golden beads - indicating a high status burial. Even more exciting, they've found bits of a chariot, which would make this a very rare and unique find. /8

These finds could do a lot to cement the hypothesis that the Heuneburg was the site of northern Europe's first city - and an incredibly affluent, thriving one at that.

If you'd like to know more, you can follow the 'Keltenblock 2.0' dig here. /FIN keltenblock.de/keltenblock-20/

Ping @palaces_BaWu, @LMWStuttgart @dw_culture.