A time of crises
In the 3rd century BC, contact with the Mediterranean region was lost; the region had exerted a significant influence up until then.
This development was compounded by economic crises and probably migration out of the region as well.
The cremation of corpses, rarely practised in earlier centuries, now became the standard form of funeral.
Splendid graves were dispensed with, clearly because the “princes” commanded less power.
Some grave goods were no longer buried as whole items. Instead, a piece of them would be interred to represent the entire object.
This is reflected by what happened to the once-elaborate chariot burials, which “shrank” and were replaced by the practice of burying individual chariot fittings or parts of a harness.
Weapons were bent to render them unusable, which may have been a form of protective magic.
The age of princes
Contact with the Mediterranean area was re-established in the 1st century BC, as evidenced by new imported goods from the region.
Graves once again more strongly indicated social differences, but no princely graves from this late Celtic period are to be found in the Saarland.
By contrast, simple burial grounds can be found in several locations, including in the Oberleuken section of Perl and the Lockweiler section of Wadern.
Princely graves are known to exist in regions neighbouring the Saarland, such as Clemency in Luxembourg.
Celts in Borg
The area around the Villa Borg is one of the few locations in the Saarland where excavations have documented not only numerous individual finds, but also settlement structures from the late La Tène period.
Wood, wattle and daub remained the main materials from which Celts built their homes in the late La Tène period.