Tumulus are the dominant people in Northern Europe during the Nordic Bronze Age, coming to power from the remnants of the previous Unetice culture. Tumulus influence is felt through north Eurasia from 1600 - 1300 BCE, and later interactions with Italy and the Celts.
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The Tumulus people control the Baltic coast and the inland regions recently inhabited by Unetice and Corded Ware cultures. Lethal warriors, the Tumulus carve out a generous place for themselves in Bronze Age history.
Their name comes from the method of burial, a mound, kurgan or tumulus for one or multiple graves. The graves might be built one atop another, as entire villages could be. The excavations at Çatalhöyük (Catal hoyuk) show 18 layers of habitation.
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Because the tumulus is found elsewhere in the world, the name as a culture centers on the North European regions, parts of Germany, Czech Republic, Carpathian Basin, Poland, France, Switzerland and Austria. Significant settlements are found in early Bavaria and southern Germany.
Chiefdoms and clan groups form the basis of Tumulus culture. Some settlements are built fortress style on a hill, along with the famous spiked poles and fortified battle towers. Walls are wood, stone and clay. Neighbors can be hostile, especially as the Tumulus presence on the Baltic coast has significant control of Baltic Amber trade.
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Fortified Bronze Age Tumulus culture settlements include
Heuneburg, Germany, Tumulus 1500 BCE under later Celtic mound burials
Bullenheimer Berg, Bavaria, hilltop Bronze Age settlement; 3km stone wall remains
Ehrenbürg, Bavaria, linked to Walpurgisnacht or Hexennacht (Witches' Night)
The people are capable of moving enormous stones such as in the Greek 'Cyclopean' architecture style stone fortifications. These monumental structures are built about 1400 BCE, topped with wood battlements, were exemplified at the hillfort Stätteberg in Bavaria.
About this time, the Phoenicians start to make waves from coastal Levant.
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People of the Tumulus culture trade with Scandinavia, Atlantic Europe, Mediterranean region and the Aegean. Mycenaean Greeks, a dominant power, were eager to establish and fortify trade networks by land or sea.
Amber and metal ornaments or tools are common items of trade. Other trade desireables include spices, wine, fabrics, dyes, weapons, slaves, livestock, pottery, deific idols, news and gossip.
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From the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age buyers and sellers weigh metal as a form of payment or money. About the same time, in 1500 BCE, the Egyptian Pharoah declares gold to be currency.
There's evidence of trade goods having a silver and gold value in Mesopotamian trade towns such as Kültepe (Kultepe), whence the earliest writing comes. Golden 'hats' appear among artifacts of the Tumulus cultures of Germany and France. Covered in gold leaf, they're embellished with intricate carvings to represent a part or all of a solar calendar.
They may have been used in priestly rites. Other Tumulus-era gold discs and calendars come from Czech Republic, Austria and Sweden.
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The Tumulus Culture does not unite under one leader, preferring to remain united in tribal or clan group form. In grave burials and hoards, Tumulus Culture characterisitics include metalwork and bronze items such as
palstaves or bronze axes
flange‐hilted or ribbed hilt swords
dirks / daggers with rounded or symmetrical pommels
jewelry, arm & ankle bands, pins and bracelets
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Pottery includes roundish vessels with cylindrical necks, bowls with pedestals and one‐handled cups. The Tumulus culture lasts three hundred years and leaves a strong legacy. The Tumulus Culture is succeeded by the Urnfield Tradition of the late Bronze Age.
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