Abstract
The identity of the “Celts” has played an integral role in understandings of the Iron Age and the more recent socio-political history of Europe. However, the terms and attitudes which have been in place since the 19th century have created a field of research characterized by assumptions about a ‘people’ and a culture. Previous study of the “Celts” has been conducted in three main areas—genetics, linguistics, and material culture from the archaeological record. Through the reassessment of these three fields, substantial divergence in the patterns and trends between fields, as well as the highly regional nature of the evidence has been revealed within the vast interconnected trade and communication network that developed in Iron Age Europe. As a result, the unitary phenomenon identified under the term “Celts” is actually that network. This paper argues that “Celtic” should be redefined as the label for that trade and communication network, not as a label for a group, culture, or people, enabling the establishment of new identities for the regional populations of the European Iron Age.
Résumé
L’identité des « Celtes » a joué un rôle essentiel pour la compréhension de l’Âge du fer et de l’histoire sociopolitique plus récente de l’Europe. Toutefois, les termes et les attitudes utilisés depuis le XIXe siècle ont créé un domaine de recherche caractérisé par des hypothèses sur un « peuple » et une culture. Une précédente étude sur les « Celtes » a été réalisée dans trois domaines principaux: la génétique, la linguistique et la culture matérielle des données archéologiques. Grâce à une réévaluation de ces trois domaines, une divergence importante dans les caractéristiques et les tendances entre les domaines ainsi que l’aspect extrêmement régional des éléments d’information sont apparus dans le vaste réseau interconnecté et de commerce de communication qui s’est développée pendant l’Âge de fer en Europe. Il en résulte que le phénomène unitaire identifié sous le terme de « Celtes » est en réalité ce réseau. Cet article soutient que le terme « celtique » devrait être redéfini comme la dénomination pour ce réseau de commerce et de communication et non comme une dénomination pour un groupe, une culture ou un peuple, afin de permettre la création de nouvelles identités pour les populations régionales de l’Âge du fer en Europe.
Resumen
La identidad de los “Celtas” ha desempeñado un papel integral en la comprensión de la Edad de Hierro y de la historia sociopolítica más reciente de Europa. Sin embargo, los términos y actitudes que han existido desde el siglo XIX han creado un campo de investigación caracterizado por supuestos sobre un “pueblo” y una cultura. Se han realizado estudios previos de los “Celtas” en las tres áreas principales: genética, lingüística y cultura material a partir de los registros arqueológicos. Mediante la reevaluación de estos tres campos, se han revelado divergencias sustanciales en los patrones y tendencias entre los campos, así como también la naturaleza sumamente regional de las evidencias dentro de la vasta red interconectada de comercio y comunicación que se desarrolló en la Europa de la Edad de Hierro. Como resultado, el fenómeno unitario identificado bajo el término “Celtas” es realmente dicha red. El presente documento argumenta que debe redefinirse “Céltico” como la etiqueta para la red de comercio y comunicación, no como una etiqueta para un grupo, cultura o pueblo, permitiendo el establecimiento de nuevas identidades para las poblaciones regionales de la Edad de Hierro Europea.
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Acknowledgments
I would like to express my everlasting thanks first and foremost to my supervisor, Professor Roland Fletcher, for everything he has done to help my honors thesis, from which this derives, come to fruition. Also to my close group of University of Sydney archaeology colleagues for their support and friendship throughout. Finally, many thanks to the NASC organizers and committee as well as Archaeologies Journal for this opportunity.