| HALLSTATT The earliest archaeological evidence of the Celts in Europe dates from 700 BC. A group of Celtic graves was found in Hallstatt, Austria, showing that from 800 BC to 600 BC a people known as the Celts were occupying a region north of the Alps, and were trading with the Greeks and Etruscans (of northern Italy). From the earliest literary evidence of the Celts (the Greek writer Herodotus, 6th century BC), we learn that the Celts lived from an area north of Spain in the west, to the Upper Danube in the east. One of the most powerful tribes of the people of the Hallstatt culture called themselves the Celts, which translated into Greek as Keltoi. The Greeks were most familiar with this specific tribe, and eventually used the term to apply to all of the people of this area and culture. The Hallstatt culture is the first of the time period called by historians and archaeologists, the Iron Age. The Hallstatt Celts were the first people to make iron in Northern Europe. Their skill in metalworking, especially weaponry, gave the Celts an advantage in warfare. LA TENE This is considered the classic Celtic culture. The name La Tene comes from the main archaeological site associated with this period at Lake Neuschatel in Switzerland. At this lake a massive grove of Celtic weaponry was found showing a new type of artwork that had not been used in the Hallstatt period. A new type of warrior grave also characterizes this period. The La Tene era began between 450 and 400BC. Art of this period showed a dramatic change from that of the Hallstatt. It is characterized by fluidity and plasticicity, it is curvilinearand somewhat surreal in appearance It is believed that assimilation of Mediterranean and other influences at this period hastened the change in art from the geometric Hallstatt style to the fluid La Tene. Vegetal motifs such as the "Tree of Life", probably originally Middle Eastern, appear at this time. Hoever, the changes came, the Celts assimilatad them and made them uniquely their own. |
| More links: Gaelic Literature Celtic Languages |
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