Between 770 and 700 BC, Celtic settlers established the largest Celtic cemetery of the Iron Age in what is now Switzerland in Unterlunkhofen. Where these Celts had their settlements is still unknown.
background
If you climb up the hill behind the wood storage area near the Unterlunkhofen forest hut, you will see something interesting between the trees: over sixty burial mounds from the Hallstatt period, named after the Hallstatt saltworks, protrude rather inconspicuously from the forest area. The elevations, with diameters of 4 to 26 meters, are rather unspectacular visually, but historically they are all the more significant.
The upper class of the Celtic population of the time was often cremated after death and buried under mounds with grave goods in the form of jewelry, vases, weapons or plates. Particularly richly decorated graves are referred to as princely graves. However, the term princely grave says nothing about the actual status of the person buried. Three of the mounds in Unterlunkhofen are very large, one of which has a diameter of 26 meters and is decorated with two monoliths on the summit. Speculations as to whether this is the grave of a community leader are speculations, but are certainly possible based on the grave finds. So-called princely graves usually show richer grave goods in the graves of male dead. However, only women were buried in the last known princely graves of the 4th century, which underlines the importance of women among the Celts (in comparison to their rather subordinate role among the Romans or Germanic tribes). In Unterlunkhofen – as has been established on the basis of the grave goods – both women and men were buried.
The historical value of the necropolis has not always been appreciated. In 1970, for example, the largest burial mound was partially removed by the forestry office without permission. It was only after interventions by the canton and the Swiss Confederation that the grave was reconstructed. But even before that, the river pebbles that adorned the mounds until their discovery in 1865 had been removed. Today, people are searching in vain for stone circles on the hills, with the exception of a few remains. It is also unforgivable that no one has prevented a forest from growing rampant in the area of the burial mounds and damaging the graves. One could almost believe that everything has been done to ensure that the "heathen graves", as the necropolis is called by the older residents, are forgotten.
How and where the Celts lived in the Unterlunkhofen region is unknown. However, there must have been a larger community with an upper class that was buried in the necropolis. However, there is no evidence of a fortified settlement so far.
Location
Coming from Bremgarten, turn left at the big bend in the main road and follow the old Zürcherstrasse. After the last farm, turn left into the first street and park (no entry). Follow the road to the forest hut and the wood store. There is an information board to the north-east of the store.
Access
The necropolis is accessible at any time.
