The first known permanent settlement of
the area began with the Linear Pottery Culture, around 5000 BC in the Neolithic
era. About 200 BC, the Celtic Boii tribe founded the first significant
settlement, a fortified town known as an oppidum, and also established a mint
which produced silver coins known as biatecs. The area fell under Roman
influence from the 1st to the 4th century AD and formed part of the Limes
Romanus, a border defence system. The Romans introduced grape growing to the
area and began a
