Maasberg Logo
Title
Kulturlandschaft
Trithemius

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.

vSpacer hSpacer Celtic ring wall on the Dollberg near Otzenhausen (Hunnenring) («Hochwald» Forest) rFrame
footSpacer
[ Mail to Webmaster ] info@maasberg.ch