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The 'Hunnenring' near Otzenhausen
The name "Hunnenring" was falsely given to the ring wall on
Dollberg (620 m) near Otzenhausen, which was actually constructed
by the
Celts
of the Latène Age (500 to 20 BC). The walled area
had the remarkable length of 1,360 meters for the main wall and a
further 850 meters for the wall in front. More than 200,000 cubic
meters of quarry stone were worked into the grounds, which, with
dimensions of 647 m by 460 m, comprises an area of almost 19
hectares. The dimensions are truly impressive: to the north the
main wall is still 10 meters high with a base 40 meters thick.
One must remember that the quarry stones were once held together
between a framework of timber poles creating vertical walls that
protected this urban settlement (Roman "Oppidum") of Treverians
from invaders. It is estimated that the northern wall was 25 m
tall. The entrance was through the 6 m wide west door, which was
divided by a central post into two identically sized entryways
and was apparently covered by a well-fortified wooden structure.
In addition, protective walls on either side aided the defense.
The grounds with the ring wall, still formidable in their
dimensions, were constructed in the first century BC, that is in
the late Latène Age. There was probably a pre-existing fortress
on the same location during the early Latène Age (fifth century
BC).
Photo: The Celtic ring wall on the Dollberg (620 m) near
Otzenhausen was built during the Latène period (475-20 BC).
The wall system of up to 10m height had the incredible length of 1360m
for the main barricade and an additional 850m for the outer barricade.
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