1 - Gate and Fortification
The gate was an important lookout and defensive position. Access to it is formed by inward-turning rampart arms; the resulting alley allows only a small number of attackers to approach. The limited space makes it difficult for them to move, giving the defenders a great advantage. This type is called a pincer gate.
Oppida featured massive fortifications, sometimes multiple layers, consisting of a 3-4 m high rampart with a front wall of dry-laid stones and a wooden parapet. The foundation of the rampart consists of grids of oak logs filled with soil and stones. An alternative was mounded ramparts, which could be heightened with a post palisade. In front of the rampart or mound was a ditch up to 3.5 m deep.
Greetings to you, this is Rós and I am her brother Machar, we are Celts from the Boii tribe and we will guide you through our oppidum. An oppidum is not a small village; it would be better to say it’s like a prehistoric town. Our chieftain lives here, along with his best warriors, the most skilled craftsmen, wealthy merchants, and also druids – our priests. There are simply many important and wealthy people here, and they want to live in safety. That’s why the oppidum is protected by massive stone ramparts, deep ditches, and you can enter through a gate called a pincer gate ( because we can squeeze enemies in it like in pincers).
Inside the oppidum, we live in farmsteads. They contain residential houses, workshops, storehouses, shelters for animals, and even small gardens. Outside the farmsteads in the oppidum, you’ll also find sanctuaries where we worship our gods, or places where merchants who come from distant lands can camp.
About the Celts
The Celts are the first nation in our territory that we know by name. They appeared in the 5th …
Read moreOppida and Fortifications
Oppida were at such a high level in terms of their size and structure that they are considered the …
Read moreBuildings and Farmsteads
Life on oppida was centered around “farmsteads” – estates that included residential …
Read moreArchaeowindow
What Did Prehistoric Houses Look Like?
How can we know what prehistoric houses looked like? Unfortunately, no prehistoric houses have …
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