LBV Magazine English Edition the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (LAD) of Stuttgart conducted a new phase of archaeological investigations in Altenburg just a few kilometers from the Rhine Falls was one of the largest and most significant Celtic settlements north of the Alps during the 1st century BC The findings have shed light on the daily life of this community and highlighted the central role of this city in Mediterranean trade and as a hub of specialized artisanal activities The oppidum of Altenburg-Rheinau occupies two peninsulas: the Schwaben peninsula such as the studies conducted in the 1970s by the University of Tübingen had already provided information about the organization of the settlement over a total area of 320 hectares carried out between 2022 and 2024 by the LAD have expanded our knowledge of the structures and activities at this site conducted in areas near the main defensive wall known as “Schanz,” multiple filled pits were identified project director and specialist in the Metal Ages exhibit distinct fill layers and were likely originally used for food storage remnants of underground structures with access through ramps or earthen stairs were discovered possibly serving as cellars or storage facilities evidence of residential buildings is scarce Only one square-plan post structure was uncovered interpreted as a possible warehouse rather than a dwelling Among the most remarkable finds are fragments of local ceramics and imported items such as Italian amphorae used to transport wine a luxury good highly prized by the Celtic elite evidence of a monetary economy that facilitated long-distance trade these discoveries confirm the existence of a well-structured trade network connecting the oppidum with the Mediterranean a writing instrument used to inscribe on wax tablets This object not only demonstrates the use of writing at the settlement but also underscores the administrative and economic sophistication necessary to sustain extensive trade exchanges such as fibulae and bronze and iron buckles decorated with intricate designs provide insights into the daily life and fashion of the oppidum inhabitants suggests an economy based on organized livestock farming and specialized meat production The excavations would not have been possible without the collaboration of volunteers and logistical support from the local community numerous individuals had the opportunity to visit the site and witness ongoing research aiming to further unveil the secrets of this fascinating Celtic settlement Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (LAD) de Stuttgart Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email Archaeologists from universities in the United States and Denmark found deep within the Actun Uayazba Kab cave in Belize two small stone tools dated between 250 and 900 AD that… men and women gathered to play a game called Cuju A team of researchers has succeeded in recreating for the first time in a laboratory experiment a phenomenon that until now only 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dominate nearly the entire known world in Antiquity Receive our news and articles in your email for free You can also support us with a monthly subscription and receive exclusive content About  .  Contact  .  Donation Archaeological excavations conducted by the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) within the Stuttgart Regional Council between August and October 2024 near Altenburg have revealed significant findings at the late Celtic oppidum Altenburg-Rheinau which thrived during the first century BCE was a major center for trade and specialized crafts north of the Alps The 2024 excavations focused near the fortification wall on the Schwaben peninsula highlighted the discovery of large cylindrical pits up to 2.5 meters deep were likely used for food storage,” Wieland explained Some pits had rectangular or oval bases and may have been accessed via earthen stairs or ramps While evidence of aboveground residential structures remains sparse a square post structure uncovered nearby is thought to have been a storage building Artifacts unearthed from the Altenburg-Rheinau site underscore its importance as a hub of trade and cultural exchange Local coarse and fine pottery fragments were found alongside imported wine amphorae from Italy “Wine from the Mediterranean was a coveted luxury among the Celtic elite and a cornerstone of lucrative trade,” noted Wieland Coins from the first century BCE provide further evidence of a monetary economy facilitating trade The presence of ornately decorated brooches and other costume accessories made of bronze and iron offers a glimpse into the daily lives and craftsmanship of the Celts One of the most intriguing discoveries came during the 2023 excavations: a bone stylus used for writing on wax tablets “This is rare evidence of the use of writing in the oppidum,” Wieland said it was a crucial prerequisite for trade with the Mediterranean region.” The large quantities of well-preserved animal bones found at the site point to organized livestock farming and specialized meat production These findings provide a deeper understanding of the economic systems and settlement organization within the oppidum plans are underway for further excavations in 2025 More information: State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (LAD) and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab). Leave empty if the image is purely decorative. Text description provided by the architects. The hybrid innovation centre built by HENN for furniture company Brunner in Rheinau has been officially opened. The multifunctional building combines production, assembly, office and catering areas. The modular wooden structure of the hall underlines the project's stringent requirements when it comes to sustainability, natural aesthetics and recreational quality. © HGEschSustainable and intelligent timber construction. The modular wooden structure of the production hall is a special feature of the project. The material underlines the sustainability of the construction and has a decisive influence on the atmosphere and aesthetics of the space. Similar to the craftsmanship and techniques used in furniture production, the beams of the roof structure are assembled at the junctions. © HGEschAt the same time, the new building opens up the company to the outside world. The representative room-high glazed north-west facade represents this direct exchange between clients, visitors and employees in a practical and symbolic way and allows maximum daylight to enter the production and catering areas. © HGEschIn contrast to the fully glazed areas matt reflective metal facades in lightweight construction give the areas for assembly and dispatch an industrial appearance You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Christoph Steffen/LADAerial view of the site where the Celtic settlement Altenburg-Rheinau once stood two millennia ago the German State Office for the Preservation of Monuments (LAD) carried out archaeological research near the city of Altenburg late-Celtic cylindrical pits with “clearly distinguishable filling layers” believed to be used in food storage These findings are just the latest in a series of discoveries at the remains of this Celtic oppidum (a fortified Iron Age settlement or town) while previous excavations turned up equally fascinating results digging in 2023 led to the discoveries of coins and an ancient writing stylus made from bone all offering deeper insight into Celtic daily life some 2,000 years ago The Altenburg-Rehinau oppidum has been a subject of archaeological interest since at least the 1970s, according to a press statement from the LAD It was then that experts from the University of Tübingen made initial observations about settlement structures on the 576-acre “Schwaben” peninsula the LAD decided to further investigate this region’s ancient past The 2024 archaeological excavation focused on the area near the fortification wall where researchers found numerous filled pits Yvonne Mühleis/LADCeltic artifacts found at the Altenburg-Rehinau site “Characteristic findings were several large cylindrical pits with clearly distinguishable filling layers that were up to two and a half meters deep,” reported project leader Dr head of the Metal Ages department at the LAD What remained of the wall linings seemed to be made of organic material suggesting the pits were originally used for food storage featuring both rectangular and oval floor plans likely had staircases or ramps as entryways into their subterranean depths researchers have found little evidence of aboveground housing structures so far Before these pits were uncovered and hinted at various aspects of Celtic life here previous excavations at the site yielded other fascinating artifacts that did the same — including a pen made of bone archaeologists discovered a bone stylus which would have been used to write on wax tablets as was the Mediterranean custom of the time Yvonne Mühleis/LADThe pen made of animal bone that was found at this ancient Celtic site in southern Germany “This is rare evidence of the use of writing in the oppidum was an essential prerequisite for trade with the Mediterranean region,” Wieland said Numerous well-preserved animal bones were found at the site offering even more insight into the oppidum’s economic system and long-distance commercial relationships throughout the region suggesting that organized livestock farming and specialized meat production were present each excavation uncovered a large number of ceramics “In addition to local coarse and fine ceramics fragments of imported wine amphorae from Italy are particularly worth mentioning,” Wieland said “Wine from the Mediterranean was a sought-after luxury item among the Celtic upper class and the basis for a lucrative trade.” come from around the time of the first century B.C.E. when many of the Celtic settlements in southwest Germany had already been abandoned Further research at the site is planned for 2025 so perhaps future discoveries will shed even more light on the story of Altenburg-Rheinau After reading about the recent discoveries at Altenburg-Rheinau, learn about 11 fascinating creatures from Celtic folklore. Then, learn about the mystical Celtic warrior Cú Chulainn. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information Photographer: Prisma Bildagentur/UIG via Getty Images 2018 at 6:21 AM EDTUpdated on September 10 2018 at 9:36 AM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.It’s hard to say ‘no’ to something for nothing A village in Switzerland has decided to go ahead with an experiment on basic income with a payout of 2,500 francs ($2,570) per month The next step is to raise money to finance the plan via crowdfunding This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page German transmission system operator Amprion has commissioned Siemens Energy with the construction of two SVC PLUS series static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) systems to further stabilize the German transmission power grid The plants will be in Polsum (North Rhine-Westphalia) and Rheinau (Baden-Württemberg) Both systems are designed for a reactive power range of +/- 600 Mvar and will feature grid-supporting control mechanisms allowing the systems to efficiently compensate for increasing voltage fluctuations in the electrical transmission network.While the share of renewable energies is growing worldwide their volatile feed-ins put significant strain on the power grids Due to the geographical arrangement of renewable energy generation the distance to the consumption centers is growing the space is growing between large wind farms that feed into the energy grid in the north and load centers in other parts of the country This makes the transmission network more susceptible to voltage fluctuations and interference large power plants have provided the reactive power necessary for grid stabilization due to the energy transition many of these conventional power plants which are operated with nuclear or fossil fuels transmission system operators like Amprion set up STATCOM systems at important grid nodes They compensate for the voltage fluctuations by regulating the reactive power as required keeping the grid voltage in a stable range the expansion of renewable energy generation allows greater use of power lines reinforcing the need for increased reactive power compensation This requires STATCOM systems with increasing capacities up to +/- 600 Mvar reactive power.German transmission system operators have calculated a minimum expansion requirement for stationary and controllable compensation units for reactive power compensation in the network development plan This controllable expansion requirement was defined to be between 23 and 28 Gvar and is expected to be covered to a large extent by STATCOM systems Due to the increasing use of power electronic equipment in the network network operators are also calling for new control concepts with grid-forming behavior for all STATCOM systems These lead to a control behavior of the converter similar to rotating synchronous generators such as those used in conventional power plants STATCOMs could keep the voltage in the network constantly stable by themselves.The STATCOM systems available today do not yet have these comprehensive network-supporting properties They use common current control schemes that are state-of-the-art power electronic equipment for transmission grid applications Technology companies like Siemens Energy will further develop the control algorithms and possibly the hardware accordingly The new turnkey STATCOM system that Siemens Energy will build in Polsum and Rheinau will have these new grid-supporting features.