- Chapter Twenty-Eight -
show that this situation is reflected in place-names with the component seg (sieg =
victory in the Celtiberian language), which indicate movement from the Celtiberian
to the Iberian area (Untermann 1961: 16ff.). Such operations might have been carried
out by Celtiberian mercenaries, who are mentioned repeatedly in the classical
sources.
There is, however, also archaeological evidence of Celtic culture within the
Iberian-speaking area: in historical sources, an Iberian-Ligurian mixed population is
named in the north-east of Spain and in Languedoc, which occupied the
Mediterranean coast on both sides of the Pyrenees and which absorbed Celtic
elements of costume and weapons (Solier 1976-8: 21 Iff.). On French soil, there are
shrines like Roquepertuse and Entremont, at which the Celtic cult of the head was
practised. Closely similar finds have also come from Catalonia. Here, sculptures were
discovered which depict tetes coupees on a pillar (Guitart Duran 1975) (Figure 28.10,
no. 3). In the Iberian oppidum of Ullastret (Gerona), perforated skulls with iron nails
in situ were found, indicating that the barbaric custom of displaying the skulls of
dead enemies was practised here (Campillo 1976-8: 317ff.) (Figure 28.10, no. 2).
Finally, finds from the fourth century Be onwards, which witness the contacts
with Celtic culture, can be brought together in the Iberian area of the south-east.
These include numerous fibulae (Figure 28.13, no. I) and an art form which contains
elements of the 'Waldalgesheim Style' and is found on Iberian high-status weapons
(Figure 28.13, no. 2). They show that Celtic craftsmanship was popular in the Iberian
area and was integrated into the personal equipment of the indigenous people.
Magnificent gold and silver fibulae of early and middle La Tene type still occur in
the first century Be (Figure 28.13, no. 3). Incidentally, here, too, Celtic mercenaries
were recruited by Iberian warrior-princes.
An entirely individual version of Celtic culture is thus found on the Iberian
peninsula, one which is archaeologically most clearly evidenced in the Celtiberian
core area of the Meseta; this culture is also a constituent element of the Castro culture
and its influence is also detectable in the Iberian-speaking region.
The Romans, who had already begun to subjugate Iberian tribes in the third
century Be, had to fight bloody wars in order to break the resistance of the popula-
tion in the centre and the west of the peninsula. The war against Numantia lasted
ten years; it was eventually completely isolated and was forced to give up its heroic
battle in 133 Be after months under siege. Only with the conquest by Augustus of
the Artabri in the north-west tip of Spain did the whole of the peninsula become a
Roman province.
REFERENCESAlbertos Firmat, M.L. (1966) 'La onomastica personal primitiva de Hispania. Tarraconense y
Betica', Theses et Studia Philologica Salmanticensia 13, Salamanca.
Almagro Gorbea, M. (1991) 'The Celts of the Iberian peninsula', in S. Moscati et al. (eds) The
Celts, 389-4°5.
Arribas, A. (n.d.) The Iberians: ancient peoples and places, London: Thames & Hudson.
Campillo, D. (1978) 'Abrasiones dentarias y craneos enclavados del poblado de Ullastret550