Pre-Roman Iron Age (500-00-50)
| Site | Type | Municipality | County |
| Kaali | hillfort | Saaremaa Rural | Saare (I) (W) |
| Kirikumägi | burial site | Rõuge Rural | Võru (S) |
| Kõivuküla | hillfort | Kambja Rural | Tartu (SE) |
| Kurevere | tarand grave | Saaremaa Rural | Saare (I) (W) |
| Lauritsakiv | cup-marked stones | Kuusalu Rural | Harju (N) |
| Lülle | stone ship graves | Saaremaa Rural | Saare (I) (W) |
| Narva | hillfort | Narva-Jõesuu Urban | Ida-Viru (NW) |
| Poanse | tarand grave | Lääneranna R | Pärnu (W) |
| Pölgaste | stone-cist grave | Kanepi Rural | Põlva (SE) |
| Roosimägi | settlement | Jõhvi Rural | Ida-Viru (NW) |
| Tõugu | burial site | Haljala Rural | Lääne-Viru (N) |
| Väo Jaani | stone-cist graves | Tallinn Urban | Harju (N) |
| Viimsi-I | tarand grave | Viimsi Rural | Harju (N) |
The Pre-Roman Iron Age in Estonia was a transformative period marked by the adoption of local iron smelting from bog ore and the establishment of the so-called Celtic fields (block fields) solidifying permanent land use. Iron was used primarily for tools (axes, knives) rather than weapons during the early part of this period.
Cremations continued and tarand graves – rectangular, stone-walled, above-ground enclosures typically filled with rubble – after appearing during the Late Bronze Age, a new wave appeared in western Estonia and Saaremaa during the Iron Age. These graves were placed side-by-side in a honeycomb pattern. Important individuals were often buried under wide stone mounds known as cairn graves.
Similarly, while the first hillforts date to the Late Bronze Age, the Iron Age saw a surge of new fortifications in Northern and Western Estonia and Saaremaa, alongside significant strongholds in Southern Estonia. Society transitioned from coastal fishing sites to inland settlements based on permanent, arable farming. Increasing social stratification became evident with the presence of prestige items in stone-cist and tarand graves.
Leave a Reply