Proto-Celts and the Hallstatt Culture

The Hallstatt culture is named after the site of that name in Austria and it flourished in central Europe from the 8th to 6th century BCE. The full period of its presence extends from c. 1200 to c. 450 BCE - from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age.

Due to cultural similarities with later Iron Age peoples in Europe, the Hallstatt culture is often called a proto-Celtic culture. The Hallstatt culture went into decline from around 500 BCE as local natural resources, in particular, salt, ran out and rival trading centers appeared elsewhere. The Hallstatt culture was replaced in terms of regional dominance by peoples living to the north, west, and east, known collectively as the La Tène culture (c. 450 - c. 50 BCE), when cross-European trade routes shifted from the Hallstatt area.

The Hallstatt culture derives its name from the site on the west bank of Lake Hallstatt in Upper Austria where the first artefacts were discovered in 1846 CE. Traditionally, the culture was divided into two approximate periods spanning from 750-600 BCE and from 650 to 450 BCE. More recently, archaeological finds have demonstrated the culture began earlier than first thought and so the full span of the Hallstatt culture is now divided into four periods (A, B, C, and D), beginning around 1200 BCE and ending around 450 BCE. However, these dates are the broadest possible range and are not agreed upon by all scholars, neither can they be applied to all areas where the culture was present.

TWO DEVELOPMENTS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE HALLSTATT CULTURE: EXPLOITATION OF LOCAL DEPOSITS OF SALT & IRON.
What is more certain is that, eventually, the culture spanned out from Hallstatt to the east and west, covering territory in what is today western Austria, southern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France on the one side, and eastern Austria, Bohemia, and parts of the Balkans on the other. It was the western side of this area that would eventually develop into what we might today call the ancient Celts. Just how the Hallstatt culture spread is another point of uncertainty. Migration was traditionally suggested as the answer but more modern historians prefer a nuanced explanation that includes such activities as trade, tribal alliances, intermarriages, imitation, and so on, all of which can be difficult to trace in the archaeological record.

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Attribution: Music by Royalty Free Music - Alexander Nakarada

[gothicwestern]

Prehistoric Europe is always referred to as 'culture' not as 'civilisation' but looking at videos of the houses, crafts and artefacts, and burial and trade practices, I think it is perfectly reasonable to refer to this period as early European civilisation.

[MDE]

If you've never been there, Hallstatt is really a gem in Europe, you should really visit it;)

[Jason-msbv]

A stunning presentation!! I hadn't realized just how sophisticated and connected this culture was, and so much amazing artefacts too, I would love to know more about their association with the Etruscans, another fascinating people, thanks for this one guys!!

[nvrltoeducate]

this presentation is exquisitely written as well as superbly narrated, perfectly coordinated with amazing video. thanks to all who contributed in production.

[subhamomm]

Wow this video is amusing and very appriciating I liked this video very much concept is memorable so I liked your video you will be the best YouTube channel in future so carry on keep it up.

[julesknight]

I absolutely love these proto-culture type histories! Would very much like to see more of the same for various regions throughout the world

[NAHAJI]

Thank you for this presentation. We all came from people as these. We are here today thanks to them. I know Poland has huge salt mines.

[barbaralucas]

Would just like to say, thank you so much for your work sir! Find your voice so soothing and videos so informative. Thanks again and take care 😊

[strigosandreas]

...another most excellent narrated and produced video...much appreciated 👏 thank you for your hard work...

Wæs þu hæl

[TWD]

A nice overview video, I’m doing a module on the Iron Age in Britain at the University of Manchester and this helped paint a picture of a section of the period, thanks

[FRguillaume.L]

Great video, too bad you didn't add the credit of the illustrations source + name of the artefacts on the video ! Keep the good work !

[ericcloud]

Thank you! I love any Celtic, Pre-celtic, Yamnaya, or proto Indo-European history!

[olinayoung]

That was excellent!! Thank you so much!

[paul]

I can totally picture Gollum pushing himself around in his little boat in that salt mine

[tommunyon]

Fascinating information. One has to wonder if these cultures acquired a degree of literacy, given their contact with Mediterranean peoples who had developed alphabets. I'm inferring that the burials didn't contain any inscriptions or other written material. Their level of sophistication indicates that they had some way of keeping accounts and passing on knowledge.

[ELLAS]

In general, there are three groups of people among the Celts who are highly respected by everyone. The Bards, the Uates and the Druids.
The Bards are hymns and poets, the Wats are priests and of course philosophers and the Druids, in addition to physics, also practice moral philosophy.The Hyperboreans had Greek names such as Argi and Opi and Hyperochi and Laodice.
their gods had the same or corrupted Greek names, such as Diis Pater.The Hyperboreans also have their own special language and have very friendly feelings for the Greeks, and especially for the Athenians and the inhabitants of Delos, a friendship they inherited from very ancient times.the religious ceremonies of the Celts and Gauls were the same as those of the Greeks, while the language in which the Druids sang was also Greek. (Julius Caesar "On the Gallic War").Hercules in his campaign against Geryon found himself in Britain, a fact which many scholars associate with his Tenth Labour. There he met the daughter of King Britannus, Keltini, with whom they had Kelto, which means he who rides the kelita horse (kelis, kelitos, kellos: riding horse). The Celts took their name from this child.

[thli]

Interesting. I wouldn't have thought it was more effective to mine salt.

[suzbone]

Did DW also read chapters of The History Of The Greeks for Libravox?

[gladysseaman]

The bowman at Amesbury has been connected to the hallsted culture. His teeth, I believe, has strontium tested to the area.

[braudhadoch]

Wasn't the Huns that pushed them out?