Die Rekonstruktion sozialer Gruppen der Hallstattzeit zwischen Enns und Donau

On the basis of 295 graves of Ha B3-D2 [ca. 880-550 B. C., split in 3 phases] from three research areas [NE-Alps, E-Alps, and SE-Alps], gender- and age-specific grave goods and treatment of the dead were determined. A calculation of the value of grave goods allowed the identification of prestige goods and values of inventories. The social structure was reconstructed by means of grave good patterns, prestige goods, and status symbols. Male graves contained weapons, multi-headed pins, and horse gear, female graves had jewellery and spindle whorls. Prestige objects varied by regions and expressed social and ritual tasks and long-distance contacts of the dead, in which gold, weapons, horse gear, waggons, symposium and libation equipment played an important role. Sometimes, a high social or ritual position of women was ascertained. Variable grave good patterns imply considerable individuality and low social pressure. The fairly homogeneous phase 1 was followed by hierarchisation in phase 2 which ended by the abandonment of necropoleis and long distance routes in phase 3. From a sociological point of view there were Big Men systems, although elites were presented as sacred kings in the graves.