Tides of History The First Cities North of the Alps: Interview with Professor Manuel Fernandez-Götz
Sep 4, 2025
Professor Manuel Fernandez-Götz, an expert in Later European Prehistory from Oxford, dives deep into the intriguing world of the Iron Age. He discusses the transformative impact of urbanization and state formation in ancient societies. The conversation covers the significance of the Hoineberg site as a bustling center of craftspeople and merchants. Fernandez-Götz highlights the role of advanced archaeological techniques like ancient DNA analysis in uncovering social dynamics, elite structures, and the interconnectedness of early Iron Age cultures.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Rapid Reassessment At Heuneburg
- Manuel Fernández-Götz recounts how Heuneburg's estimated settlement area grew from ~30 to ~100 hectares across successive seasons.
- This illustrates how new excavations rapidly reshape archaeological understanding.
Complex Multi-Zone Settlement Layout
- Heuneburg combined a fortified hilltop, a lower fortified town, and a vast 100-hectare outer settlement with mixed uses.
- The site integrated dense urban quarters, workshops, farms, and elite burial mounds in its landscape.
Parallel Urban Trends North And South
- Northern centralization mirrors Mediterranean urbanization but with different forms and timings.
- Heuneburg and other Hallstatt sites show tangible contacts with Massalia, Etruria, and northern Italy.