Fit for the road: Celtic wagon reconstructed

Boris Dreyer and his team have completed their next reconstruction project

Original Celtic wagons or reconstructions can be admired not only in museums and documentaries but also at the university. A team led by Prof. Dr. Boris Dreyer, Professor of Ancient History at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität-Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), has fully reconstructed a single-axle Celtic wagon based on the latest research findings. With this type of feasibility study, Boris Dreyer and his team hope to gain new insights into Celtic craft technology and infrastructure despite the lack of contemporary sources.

Staff from the Professorship for Ancient History, members of the EGEA e.V. association, and volunteer helpers have reconstructed the Celtic wagon. The team was supported by blacksmith Thomas Hürner, who has been involved in several reconstruction projects.

Particularly challenging: The wheels of the wagon were not made from individual segments but bent from a single piece of wood. To prevent the wood from breaking while being bent, an approximately three-meter-long ash plank was heated in boiling water for over 12 hours and then bent under tension. This allowed the team from the Professorship of Ancient History to bend the ash planks into two wheels with a diameter of 86 cm. The wagon also has a longitudinal suspension. The Celts used this to protect both the horses and the drivers by cushioning the shocks.

After successfully completing the Celtic wagon, Boris Dreyer is immediately starting the next project: the reconstruction of a transversely sprung Roman wagon with segment rims. When the work is done the Celtic wagon and the Roman wagon will be raced against each other.

Further reconstructions by Boris Dreyer

Boris Dreyer not only reconstructs ancient wagons but also boats and artillery. His Roman boats are particularly well-known. Two artillery pieces, a Scorpio and a late antique artillery piece, were exhibited at Consumenta 2024, along with individual components of the at that time still unfinished Celtic wagon.

Further information about the Roman boat Instagram video from Consumenta

Further information:

Prof. Dr. Boris Dreyer
Phone:+499131/85-25768
boris.dreyer@fau.de