The Gundestrup cauldron is an ancient silver pot discovered in a peat mine in Denmark. This cauldron is notable for being the largest known piece of European Iron Age silver. Therefore, scholars have paid much attention to this ship.
This is especially true of the high-quality workmanship and intricate iconography, which has sparked debate about the origin of this object. Currently, there are two main camps in debate, one claiming that the cauldron is of Gaulish origin, while the other claims that the vase is actually of Thracian origin.
Explore the Gundestrup cauldron
On 28 May 1891, the Gundestrup cauldron was discovered while peat cutting was underway at Raevenose, a small peat bog located near the village of Gundestrup, in the Aars parish of Himmerland, Jutland. When the Gundestrup cauldron was discovered, it was in an unloaded state, with five long rectangular panels, seven shorter panels, one round panel and two pipe pieces. These pieces were reconstructed into their present form the following year by Sophus Müller, a Danish archaeologist.
The round disc is said to be the base of the cauldron; hence it is also called ‘base plate’. Five longer panels were placed on the inside of the cauldron, with a distance of 2 cm (0.79 inches) between each panel, while seven were shorter (it has been suggested that there were originally eight panels) positioned on the outside of the vessel. The reconstructed cauldron was measured to be 69 cm (27.17 inches) in diameter and 42 cm (16.54 inches) high.
Base plate center medallion, from a copy (CC BY-SA 3.0)
New details about the creation date of Gundestrup Cauldron
It is generally accepted that the Gundestrup Cauldron was made at some point in the 2nd or 1st century BC. Based on paleontological investigation of the surrounding peat, it is thought that when the cauldron was deposited, the soil had dried and a peat bog gradually formed around it over time. It is also suggested that, based on the way the pieces are stacked, an attempt was made to conceal it.
More recently, Martin Sweatman reported his findings on the dating of the Gundestrup Cauldron based on the zodiac symbols present on the artifact. The images he notes on the Cauldron are: “the bull, the deer, the lion and the fish, corresponding to Capricorn, Aquarius or Gemini, Cancer or Leo and Pisces.” Sweatman explains:
“I have chosen Capricorn over Taurus here for the bull because we know from the hieroglyphs that at this time and in this area the bull still represents Capricorn. Likewise, from hieroglyphic symbols we know the fish was used to represent Pisces at this time […] However, the earliest date for Pisces is that the vernal equinox was at around 100 BC, and the latest date for the Capricorn winter solstice is around 0 AD. . So we narrowed the date down to about 100 BC to 0 AD, which is completely consistent with the usual chronology of the Cauldron.”
Some drawings inside the Gundestrup Cauldron. (mararie/ CC BY SA 2.0 )
This led Sweatman to conclude, “Finally, it appears that the zodiac date of Gundestrup Cauldron is 100 BC, which is within 100 years.”
Where is the Gundestrup cauldron produced?
The origin of the Gundestrup Cauldron is a matter of debate. It was determined that the cauldron was not produced locally and that it was brought to the area from somewhere abroad. There are two main theories about the true location of ‘somewhere abroad’. The first of these is that the cauldron is of Gaulish origin and it comes from somewhere in the Celtic world.
Supporters of this theory argue that the iconography of the cauldron points towards its origin. Images depicted on the cauldron include torques, carnyx (an ancient musical instrument) and horned figures. Such motifs are also commonly found in Celtic art that has been discovered in different parts of Europe.
Carnyx players. ( CC BY SA 3.0 )
Some have even identified a horned figure and thus provided a more specific location of the cauldron’s origin. For example, there are those who have identified the horned figure as Cernunnos, a Celtic god. Based on this, it is claimed that the cauldron originated in northern Gaul, as such depictions have also been found in that region.
“Celtic God” on Gundestrup Cauldron. (mararie/ CC BY SA 2.0 )
The second theory is that the Gundestrup cauldron is of Thracian origin and was made somewhere in the Lower Danube region of southeastern Europe. This argument is said to be supported by the ship’s design and workmanship.
For example, it has been claimed that certain silversmithing techniques once used to make the Gundestrup Cauldron, including high repoussé, pattern punching, marking and partial gilding, were not used. used in the ‘Celtic’ world during this ship’s existence. is said to have been produced.
There are also other questions regarding Gundestrup Cauldron that remain unanswered. For example, it is still unknown how the ship reached Denmark. For example, some people believe that the cauldron was a gift to a chief, others that it was an object of exchange, and still others that it was a spoil of war.
Gundestrup cauldron. (British Museum)
