Birkenfeld Museum

At the beginning of the Latène Age, around the year 500 BC, a wholly new style of art evolved within the Celtic tribes of Central Europe, going far beyond the existing one. This "new" style is expressed in a multitude of unique ornaments and motifs, which are not only found on the jewelry and the especially valuable weapons of the ruling upper class, but were used on everyday objects as well. The style that emerged in that era is described as "Celtic style" in art history, borne by independent masterpieces and iconography, which were quite obviously inspired by themes from Celtic mythology. The Hunsrück-Eifel region played a markedly progressive role here. Among experts there is even mention of the "Hunsrück-Eifel culture", which underscores the cultural significance of the region at that time. The esthetically persuasive, generally very valuable works of art, as well as the finely worked gold-smithery from the elite graves, also prove the economic prosperity of the Hunsrück-Eifel region during this era. An example of this is the "princely tomb" near the village of Schwarzenbach (Hunsrück) with art objects in the early Celtic style, from the years 450-375 BC, or the grave of the "Princess" from Waldalgesheim (Nahe Valley) with unique pieces of jewelry from around 325 BC in tendril style.