The La Tene and the Celts: Iron Age Europe
There are some glorious sites to examine dating from about 500 BC onwards.
'La Tene' s named after a bay of Lake Neuchatel where remains of this kind were first identified.
it's important we don't use our own society to interpret this past society. Here's a discussion of gender, power and ancient texts:http://www.unc.edu/celtic/catalogue/femdruids/index.html
Archaeology shows us that north of the Alps a wealthy 'super-class' developed to whom cost posed no limit. The elite of this group were buried in enormous mounds with fabulous treasures and gallons of booze, served in imported Greek booze-jars (sorry, 'cauldrons' or 'kraters') and with the deceased lavishly dressed and decorated with jewellery.
In our part of Europe, the Greeks (who have left writings from the time) call these people 'Keltoi'. Whether or not we can say they are Celts, objects of similar design, language fragments of similar origin, a love of horses, the careful production of axled carts, and flamboyant detailed jewellery all mark out common features at this date over a land mass stretching from Ireland to the Russian Steppes
Full account of the Hochdorf Prince:
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/Barbarians/Sites/Hochdorf/Hochdorf_Finds.html
Panorama of the Hochdorf Prince burial: (beware seasickness)
http://www.keltenmuseum.de/index.php/en/the-celtic-museum
'La Tene' s named after a bay of Lake Neuchatel where remains of this kind were first identified.
it's important we don't use our own society to interpret this past society. Here's a discussion of gender, power and ancient texts:http://www.unc.edu/celtic/catalogue/femdruids/index.html
Archaeology shows us that north of the Alps a wealthy 'super-class' developed to whom cost posed no limit. The elite of this group were buried in enormous mounds with fabulous treasures and gallons of booze, served in imported Greek booze-jars (sorry, 'cauldrons' or 'kraters') and with the deceased lavishly dressed and decorated with jewellery.
In our part of Europe, the Greeks (who have left writings from the time) call these people 'Keltoi'. Whether or not we can say they are Celts, objects of similar design, language fragments of similar origin, a love of horses, the careful production of axled carts, and flamboyant detailed jewellery all mark out common features at this date over a land mass stretching from Ireland to the Russian Steppes
Full account of the Hochdorf Prince:
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/Barbarians/Sites/Hochdorf/Hochdorf_Finds.html
Panorama of the Hochdorf Prince burial: (beware seasickness)
http://www.keltenmuseum.de/index.php/en/the-celtic-museum