Site comment
Covering an area of some 50 ha, the oval-shaped Titelberg plateau is approximately 1 km long (NW to SE) and 500 m wide. It was occupied continuously for 700 years from about 300 BC. There is evidence of sporadic settlements dating back even further, perhaps to 2000 BC or before. From the 1st century BC and during the Gallo-Roman period, foundations of masonry replaced the earlier, less durable constructions. These, together with the 9-m high earthen ramparts around the periphery, clearly demonstrate the importance of the Celtic oppidum which appears to have been the seat of the Treveri chiefs. While there is evidence that the site was probably inhabited as far back as 2000 BC, the beginnings of urban civilization can certainly be traced back to the 2nd century BC when there were bronze-working shops at the site. In the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, the oppidum had become a civilized community trading with other Gallic centres. The Treveri nobles appear to have occupied the dwellings at the centre of the plateau. The Celtic tombs excavated in the vicinity, specifically at Clemency, at Scheierheck near Goeblange and at Kreckelbierg near Nospelt contain a range of articles including wine flagons, spurs, knives, lances and oil lanterns testifying to the aristocracy of those buried. The entire site was originally surrounded by 10 m high, reinforced ramparts, sometimes called a Murus Gallicus, with fortified doors at either end of the road through the site. The ramparts were later largely removed by the Romans except at the SE end where they can still be observed. A deep ditch, 4 m wide, perpendicular to the road, separated the residential space from the public space. The residential area covering about 30 ha consisted of rectangular houses, 14 m long by 8 m wide, built of light masonry. They were equipped with fireplaces and sometimes ovens. In the public space, the remains of a large hall, 14 m square, have been found. This could have been a meeting place for political or religious purposes. About 20 years after the Roman conquest, the Celtic oppidum was completely reworked and two streets perpendicular to the main were constructed. The houses too were replaced with Roman buildings that had stone foundations and cellars. These were however generally demolished two decades later at the time the Romans moved their centre of interest from Titelberg to Trier. The Treveri, despite one early battle, apparently adopted Roman culture and religion fairly easily. Titelberg, though no longer a capital, became a prosperous vicus with a range of activities, especially metalworking. In particular, minting of coins and smelting extended at least until around 337 as one of the coins found at the site of the smelter bears the likeness of Constantine II. In the public area, a square-shaped Gallo-Roman temple was built which was later extended with a roofed porch on all sides. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titelberg)
Uncertain
