Kemmelberg

On the Kemmelberg, systematic prospecting occurred from 1961 onwards.

Between 1963 and 1980, excavations took place at an average of one month of work in each year. In total, more than 200,000 artefacts have been found with a total mass of at least two metric tonnes.

The study of all these finds took place in different stages and to different degrees. The first publication dates from 1966, and the first and only monograph from 1987. After 2006, previous publications were either finally completed or were revised. A dozen theses in total were dedicated to the archaeology of the Kemmelberg.

The finds cover at least 40,000 years of human history. Silex artefacts were found both from the late Neanderthal period and the early modern human periods. The last of the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers left traces of their tools in modest quantities.

Traces of habitation by early farmers were found to date to some six thousand years ago. Their tools and pottery have been uncovered in large numbers.

A second strong period of occupation occurred when an elite body of Celts took up residence around 450 BC. The Kemmelberg became a centre of power, with contacts stretching all the way to the Mediterranean through an interlinked Gaulish network.

 

EXTERNAL LINKS:
Kennis & Kennis Reconstructions

RELATED HISTORY FILES LINKS:
Early Cultures of Europe
Neolithic Farmer Cultures in Europe
Celts
Belgium's Prehistory

 

Text copyright © Archeo Kemmelberg. An original feature for the History Files: Kemmelberg.