FORTIFIED HILL SITES IN CENTRAL-BELGIUM DURING THE 5TH CENTURY BC
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2021-01-05

Central Belgium is crossed from West to East by a mountainous range of low hills. In the same area a series of rivers are flowing from the South to the North. In each area divided by the rivers a hill site has been occupied during the final phase of the Early Iron Age, although on two sites there are indications of an earlier Late Bronze Age occupation. These sites have certain common characteristics. They are located on a less accessible height in the area and surrounded by a system of ditches, ramparts and/or palisades. The Kemmelberg in western Belgium shows the most complicated use of defensible structures. The Kemmel is also the most important residence among this hill sites, proven by the important of central-European and Mediterranean luxury goods. Although not proven by he find of a kiln, the Kemmelberg seems to be the production site of so-called red painted Kemmel ware, which has also been found on the other hill sites. This pottery is limited to elite associated sites. A viewshed analysis f these sites pointed to some interesting ascertainment. Two sites were explicitly oriented toward the control of the neighbouring river. The Kemmelberg controlled not only visually the coastal area but also the neighbouring site of Kooigem fell within the visual range of the Kemmelberg. Finally, the present preventive archaeology has shown that around the hill sites from the 5th century BC numerous rural settlements were active at this period.


Author(s): De Mulder, Guy - Dalle, Sarah (GhentU niversity)