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Article: Iron and industry: ancient links; investigators dig into one of Iron Age Europe's first cities. (Kelheim, Germany)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- March 18, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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IRON AND INDUSTRY: Ancient Links
Scattered throughout central Europe lie nearly 40 prehistoric "time capsules" harboring remnants of an urban revolution that took place more than 2,000 years ago, near the end of the Iron Age. Each stands behind the remains of massive walls made of earth, stone and wood. The land behind the barriers, encompassing from 25 acres to more than 1,500 acres, holds what is left of the first cities of temperate Europe.
These sites are called oppida, a term coined by Julius Caesar to describe the walled settlements in Gaul (modern France) against which he led the Roman legions. Archaeological work at various oppida spans nearly a ...