Hilversum culture

Hilversum culture is the term for a first time occurring in the Netherlands population group from the Early Bronze Age ( FBZ ). It dates BC in the period between the 18th and 9th century and was discovered in a grave mound in Touterfout - Halve Mijl in the region Hilversum ( the Netherlands).

At the end of the 50s of the 20th century, they could be defined and described by W. Glasbergen. Seen archaeologically it is defined by a particular form of burial and of the material remains in the form of exceptional ceramic types. Thus, it is a special development within the Middle Bronze Age in the far west of Europe, having at this time a different development.

Chronological classification

Based on two chronological dating of approaches might serve to distinguish Hilversum culture, on the one hand based on the " relative chronology " and on the other on the basis of "absolute chronology ".

Relative chronology

Relative chronology can be their beginning to the end of the Central European Bronze Age phase A2 (BZ A2) after P. Reinecke, or the northern European period I ask after O. Montelius. This makes it one, strictly speaking, even the end of the Early Bronze Age ( FBZ ) on.

It is divided into three different stages on style: The style levels " Hilversum " (abbreviated " HVS "), " Drake Stone " ( abbreviated as " DKS ") and " Laren " (abbreviated " LRN ").

Recent studies (see Note 1 ) on the basis of 14C data revealed, however, chronologically speaking, an almost simultaneous occurrence of the style stage Hilversum and Drakenstein. For this reason, they are now as follows:

Further subdividing the early phase of the HVS 1 into three sub- phases is possible, which are designated by the uppercase letters AC:

Absolute Chronology

14C dates from the Netherlands ( see note 2)

• The oldest date of the Hilversum culture origins date from Toterfout ( GRN 1053 ): 3580 / - 130 BP ( uncalibrated ) and includes the DKS ceramics.
• The most recent date comes from Benschop ( GRN 5356 ): 2960 / - 60 BP ( uncalibrated ) includes LRN ceramics. Thus, the time frame for the absolute chronological occurrence of the Hilversum culture is given.
• The oldest date for HVS- ceramic is also from Toterfout ( GRN 50) and with 3450 / - 100 indicated BP ( uncalibrated ).

Derivation

First and foremost, she was discovered by some excavations in Hilversum (Netherlands) localized mounds. The special feature of these excavations was the very unusual for this time period burial of the dead in the form of cremations. The ashes of the deceased was given to the burning in an urn in the port and buried under a hill. These urns were made of a ceramic that have already been observed years earlier in settlement structures, whose precise dating but nothing was first known. Due to their very poor quality and style, was thinking of a date in the Outgoing Neolithic. Using numerous 14C dates, however, it was possible to date the tombs in the developed Early Bronze Age ( Bronze Age A2).

Numerous further excavations it has already been demonstrated some bronze objects that were placed as grave goods inside the graves, chronologically accurate to date. It is small bronze daggers seen typologically must be placed in the area of ​​the so -called " Sögeler culture" and thus serve as further evidence for a dating to the end of the Early Bronze Age or the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age.

Characteristic of the ceramic

The characteristic of the ceramic of the Hilversum culture is its barrel-shaped contour and the decoration of the vessels by differently positioned cord impressions or plastic strips at the top of the vessel body. The vessel wall is usually thick over an inch and falls through a strong and coarse Quarzmagerung on.