The Celtic Question
Access status:
Open Access
Type
ThesisThesis type
HonoursAuthor/s
Donnelly, HarrietAbstract
The identity of the “Celts” has played an integral role in the understanding of the Iron Age and the more recent socio-political history of Europe. However, the terminology and attitudes which have been in place since the 19th century have created a field of research characterised ...
See moreThe identity of the “Celts” has played an integral role in the understanding of the Iron Age and the more recent socio-political history of Europe. However, the terminology and attitudes which have been in place since the 19th century have created a field of research characterised by assumptions about a ‘people’ and a culture. 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, 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. “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.
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See moreThe identity of the “Celts” has played an integral role in the understanding of the Iron Age and the more recent socio-political history of Europe. However, the terminology and attitudes which have been in place since the 19th century have created a field of research characterised by assumptions about a ‘people’ and a culture. 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, 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. “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.
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Date
2013-01-01Licence
OtherRights statement
The author retains copyright of this thesis. It may only be used for the purposes of research and study. It must not be used for any other purposes and may not be transmitted or shared with others without prior permission.Faculty/School
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, School of HumanitiesDepartment, Discipline or Centre
Department of ArchaeologyShare