Czech Republic archaeologists discover major Celtic sites during highway construction

Archaeologists in the Czech Republic have made significant discoveries of Celtic settlements and artifacts during preparations for highway construction projects.

Near Hradec Králové, ahead of the D35 motorway construction, researchers uncovered a large La Tène culture settlement dating back to the 2nd century BCE. The site, spanning approximately 25 hectares, appears to have been a major trading and artisanal center rather than a simple village. Excavations have yielded approximately 22,000 bags of archaeological material, including gold and silver coins, jewelry, amber, luxury ceramics, and molds for minting money. The site also contains traces of a sanctuary and shows no defensive walls, suggesting it may represent an early phase of Celtic economic centers.

In a separate discovery near the future Břeclav bypass, archaeologists unearthed a two-meter-deep Celtic well dating to between the 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE. The find is particularly notable for its well-preserved wooden lining, which remained intact due to high groundwater levels and an anaerobic environment. Experts plan to use 3D scanning and dendrochronology to analyze the structure and determine the exact year the timber was harvested.