Vortragsreihe »World Archaeology Seminars« 

»Das spätbronzezeitliche Gräberfeld Vomp – Fiecht-Au im tiroler Unterinntal«

Wolfgang Sölder | Tiroler Landesmuseum, Archäologische Sammlung

From 2005 to 2016, the Tyrolean Provincial Museum “Ferdinandeum” explored the Late Bronze Age necropolis Vomp - Fiecht-Au with at least 511 cremation burials in the Tyrolean Lower Inn Valley opposite the late medieval-early modern mining center "Silver City Schwaz". Situated north of the Inn River in the former flood plain, the fine sediments washed into so-called man-length stone cists under burial mounds of boulder not only provided constructive details on the wooden internals, but also sometimes gave clear indications of ancient robberies limited to metal grave goods in urn graves. Imports from the north and the south convey the Tyrolean Lower Inn Valley as a hub for the metal trade due to locally available copper ores.

According to the grave goods, immigrants from the northern Alpine foothills are assumed in the earliest cremations. Intentionally destroyed and deformed weapon grave goods indicate the male elite with gender-specific bronzes, in female graves double fittings of bronze costume jewelry, prestige goods and bronze garment buttons with remnants of gold foil coating indicate the high social status.