Abstract: During excavations near Merklingen (Alb-Donau-Kreis) in 2014, a small late Iron Age hoard consisting of 42 silver coins came to light. The coins were not found in situ but were scattered over a larger area and discovered by metal detecting. This may be due to earlier construction works and ploughing. The homogeneous composition of the hoard shows close relations to the coins of the oppidum of Altenburg, situated in a meander of the Rhine at the German-Swiss border: It consists of two quinarii of the Kaletedou and one of the Arverni type, two unidentifiable quinarii and, above all 37 quinarii of the bushel type (88,1%). The hoard was deposited in the early stage of LT D2a, roughly between 80 and 60 BC. From this period, we know of only a few clearly datable finds from the southern part of Baden-Wurttemberg. Some scholars have connected this negative record with the migration of the Helvetii and the abandonment of their lands («Helvetiereinöde») as described by the ancient writer Ptolemy. Against this background, questions arise on the hoard’s original owner(s) and how the hoard finally reached its place of deposition.
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