Objekt 2105
City of Celts
Description
The first city-like settlement on Basel ground was built around 170 BCE by
Celts. It was situated at today’s Novartis Campus. The inhabitants made
their living with farming and handicraft, as shown by this jar with its ornamental
painting. It is evidence of professional pottery work. The upper
class of this Celtic city could afford imported luxury goods both from the
coasts of the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean. The Rhine thereby served
as a trade route which made its banks a favoured settlement area.
Object description
Painted jar
site: Basel-Gasfabrik, Iron Age, 150–95 BCE
ceramic
find
Inv. 1915.362.