!!!Urgeschichte

Prehistory, the study of the prehistoric age, the earliest period of 
human history, the study of which relies exclusively on archaeological 
evidence (excavations etc.). The oldest prehistoric finds in Austria 
were discovered in caves and date from the early and middle periods of 
the  Old Stone Age (Paleolithic Age). The loess steppes of the Lower 
Austrian Alpine area, except for the glaciated parts ( Ice Age), were 
settled by hunters and gatherers during the later part of the 
Paleolithic Age. Homo sapiens sapiens, whose presence has been 
documented from the late Old Stone Age onwards, already produced small 
sculptures ( Venus vom Galgenberg,  Venus von Willendorf) and lived in 
primitive shelters (Stratzing, Lower Austria). During the warm 
periods, caves at altitudes of up to 2,000 m served as dwellings 
in the Alpine region. The post-glacial cultures of hunters, gatherers 
and fishermen have been assigned to the  Middle Stone Age 
(Mesolithic).

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In the 6th millennium B.C. ( New Stone Age, Neolithic Age) the first 
farming settlements started in the fertile regions of eastern Austria. 
Virgin forests were cleared and farmers erected large rectangular 
post-wall buildings, cultivated grains and bred sheep, goats and 
cattle. Fundamental changes occurred in the 4th millennium B.C. (Late 
Neolithic Age,  Copper Age): Four-wheeled carts were invented in the 
Near East and spread rapidly to Central Europe ( Baden culture), the 
first copper implements were produced and horses domesticated. In the 
Salzkammergut region( Mondsee) lake-shore settlements were built ( 
Lake-dwellings), in the Pre-Alps and major Alpine valleys settlements 
were established on protected heights; warrior graves have been found 
from this period (battle-axe cultures,  bell-beaker culture).

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The end of the 3rd millennium B.C. saw the beginning of the  Bronze 
Age in Austria. The upper class was probably that of warriors; copper 
ore was mined, processed and smelted in Alpine greywacke zones ( 
Mitterberg, Arthur gallery). Commercial contacts necessary for bronze 
production extended across the continent. Major earthwork 
fortifications were erected ( Stillfried); the Bronze Age is 
customarily divided, on the basis of the preferred burial forms, into 
an early ( crouched burial culture), middle ( barrow grave culture),  
Pitten) and late ( urnfield culture), find at Franzhausen, 
Salzburg-Maxglan, Wildon) period.

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The early  Iron Age started in Austria in the 8th century B.C. ( 
Hallstatt Culture). Communities were ruled by noblemen who sought to 
emulate Mediterranean forms of living. Their dead were buried in large 
tumuli furnished with drinking vessels (a gold neck ring was found at 
Uttendorf,  Kultwagen von Strettweg,  Kleinklein,  Gemeinlebarn,  
Grossmugl). The salt mine at  Hallstatt (Upper Austria) is Austria's 
most important prehistoric monument: numerous richly furnished graves 
give evidence of far-reaching trading relations (ivory, amber, 
glassware, bronzes from Upper Italy). Herodotus mentioned the  Celts 
on the upper course of the Danube, thus giving for the first time a 
name to the people inhabiting our area. The Celtic language is 
believed to have originated much earlier, in the 2nd millennium B.C.

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By the beginning of the late Iron Age in the 5th century B.C. ( 
La-Tène Culture), Austria had been largely settled by Celts. 
Ceremonial inscriptions in North Etruscan alphabets have documented 
the presence of  Veneti (Gurina) in southern Carinthia and of  
Raetians in Tirol (Schneidjoch pass). Celtic craftsmen used zoomorphic 
and floral motifs taken over from Mediterranean art to produce new, 
highly imaginative forms whose symbolic character is as puzzling as 
that of geometric ornaments from the period. Particularly important 
documents of the early La Tène period are richly furnished 
warriors' graves ( Bad Duerrnberg), while the late period is 
characterised by large central hill settlements ( Magdalensberg). In 
the southern Alpine area the  Regnum Noricum was established, a union 
of Celtic tribes under the hegemony of the  Norici tribe, who started 
minting their own coins in the 1st century B.C. The most important 
trading commodity was Noric iron (ferrum Noricum). Among the first 
historic events in Austria was the migration of the Cimbri and the 
battle of  Noreia (113 B.C.).

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Museums with prehistoric finds: Museum of Natural History in Vienna, 
provincial museums in Bregenz, Eisenstadt, Graz, Innsbruck, 
Klagenfurt, Salzburg; Asparn an der Zaya (Prehistoric Age), Traismauer 
(Early History), Hallein (Celts) and Nussdorf ob der Traisen (primeval 
period). Most local history museums display prehistoric finds from 
their vicinity.

!Literature
J. Reitinger, Ur- und Fruehgeschichte OOe., 2 vols., 
1968/69; L. Pauli, Die Alpen in Fruehzeit und Mittelalter, 
%%sup 3/%1984; A. Lippert (ed.), Reclams Archaeologiefuehrer Oe., 
1985; H. Friesinger and B. Vacha, Die vielen Vaeter Oesterreichs, 
1987; A. Lippert (ed.); O. H. Urban, Wegweiser in die 
Urgeschichte Oesterreichs, 1989; J.-W. Neugebauer, Oesterreichische 
Urzeit, 1990; Die Raeter, exhibition catalogue, Innsbruck 1992.


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