Celtic refers to a language family and, more generally, means "of the Celts" or "in the style of the Celts".
Several archaeological cultures are considered Celtic, based on unique sets of artefacts. The link
between language and artefact is aided by the presence of inscriptions.[41] The modern idea of a
Celtic cultural identity or "Celticity" focuses on similarities among languages, works of art, and classical
texts,[42] and sometimes also among material artefacts, social
organisation, homeland and mythology.[43] Earlier theories held that these similarities suggest a common
racial origin for the various Celtic peoples, but more recent theories hold that they reflect a common
cultural and linguistic heritage more than a genetic one. Celtic cultures seem to have been diverse, with
the use of a Celtic language being the main thing they had in common.[5]
Today, the term 'Celtic' generally refers to the languages and cultures of Ireland, Scotland,
Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany; also called the Celtic nations. These are the regions
where Celtic languages are still spoken to some extent. The four are Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh,
and Breton; plus two recent revivals, Cornish (a Brittonic language) and Manx (a Goidelic language).
There are also attempts to reconstruct Cumbric, a Brittonic language of northern Britain. Celtic regions
of mainland Europe are those whose residents claim a Celtic heritage, but where no Celtic language
survives; these include western Iberia, i.e. Portugal and north-
central Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile and León, Extremadura).[44]
Continental Celts are the Celtic-speaking people of mainland Europe and Insular Celts are the Celtic-
speaking people of the British and Irish islands, and their descendants. The Celts of Brittany derive their
language from migrating Insular Celts from Britain and so are grouped accordingly.[45]
Origins
Main articles: Pre-Celtic and Celticization
The Celtic languages are a branch of the Indo-European languages. By the time Celts are first mentioned
in written records around 400 BC, they were already split into several language groups, and spread over
much of western mainland Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Ireland and Britain. The languages developed
into Celtiberian, Goidelic and Brittonic branches, among others.[46][47]
Urnfield-Hallstatt theory [
Overview of the Hallstatt and La Tène cultures.The core Hallstatt territory (HaC, 800 BC) is shown in solid yellow.