Archaeology: 'Chieftain of the Celts' statue recovery anniversary celebrated

Thirty years ago, an archaeological discovery of immense significance was made: the "Keltenfürst" (Chieftain of the Celts) statue from the Glauberg was unearthed. This Wednesday, June 24, marks the 30th anniversary of the recovery of the sandstone statue, which has become the most important exhibit at the Keltenwelt museum.

To commemorate this milestone, the museum is hosting a large celebration in its garden on June 28. The event aims to engage visitors of all ages with historical craft techniques demonstrated through live shows and interactive experimental stations. A special highlight will be the auction of one of Ottmar Hörl's black replicas of the Keltenfürst, with several of these replicas already displayed outside the museum.

The original stone figure of the Keltenfürst, standing 1.86 meters tall and approximately 2,400 years old, is considered a paramount testament to Celtic culture in Europe, alongside rich grave goods found in its burial. The statue is remarkably complete, missing only its feet, leading archaeologists to believe it once stood on a pedestal.

Adding to the excitement of the anniversary, a Bronze Age arm ring discovered by a 12-year-old student in a meadow near Büdingen will also be exhibited. This massive, approximately 2,700-year-old arm ring is thought to have been part of an Iron Age costume and provides evidence that the Glauberg site was inhabited as early as the early Iron Age.