Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The protohistoric tumulus necropolis of Mussig is a major archaeological site of the Iron Age (750 to 450 B.C.), located in the Lower Rhine, 500 meters west of the village, between the Ill dam and the Brücklisgraben. Composed of 37 to 55 terres divided into two groups, it is one of the most important necropolises of Alsace for this period. Five tumulus were searched, revealing remarkable structures such as a circular oak palisade, a rare example preserved in Europe.

The circular-shaped tumulus have heights ranging from 0.30 m to 1.80 m and diameters from 10 to 30 m. Their state of conservation is variable: some, eroded by agricultural activities, only form slight swellings, while others, better preserved, still structure the landscape. Their location on the edge of the Scheidgraben, apart from the urbanised areas, limited their destruction and justified their classification as historical monuments on 3 March 1989.

The site illustrates the funeral practices of the Iron Age in Alsace, with terraces organized into separate groups. The discovery of an oak palisade during excavations underlines the symbolic or defensive importance of these graves. Although the property belongs to the municipality of Mussig, its access and visibility remain partly conditioned by its natural and agricultural environment.

Historical sources mention studies from the 19th century, such as that of Prosper Vatin in 1857, which documented funerary monuments discovered near Seletat. This pioneering work, combined with modern excavations, helped to better understand the spatial and chronological organization of the necropolis, while emphasizing its role in regional history.

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