- The Celts in France -
is an evolution in grave goods through time which is quite well understood today.
Taking weaponry as an example, spears and, in a secondary way, daggers, define the
extreme end of the First Iron Age at the Jogasses cemetery: the following series of
burials, those of the earliest La Tene horizon, usually contain three spearheads.
Thereafter, the sword accompanied by a single spear and a sword belt is the usual
panoply; finally, from the third century, shields are represented. Changing dress
fashions, women's jewellery, and fighting gear provide a reflection of both evolution
through time and of the the social and family status of individuals. Indications in
the funerary record of specialists, such as traders or artisans, are very unusual. The
burial evidence allows us to posit an essentially rural society, and seemingly a homo-
geneous one. Its weaponry illustrates both its independence from external influences
and its wealth.
Several factors represent breakpoints in the gradual evolution of this rural society.
Thus it has been possible to observe, particularly in the Aisne, that cemetery layout
in the fifth century was based on family groupings in place of the sexual segregation
that characterized the previous horizon (Demoule 1982). This is the main observable
social change which occurs during the fifth century, apart from the gradual evolution
from 'Hallstatt' to 'La Tene' in terms of material culture. The appearance of objects
bearing pseudo-filigree decoration (Duval 1977) or of anklets in the women's
tombs of the third century (Kruta 1985) is indicative of links with central Europe. Is
this just a question of trade contacts or is it rather a matter of population movements
as suggested by the Latin sources? Opinion remains divided. The introduction of
cremation, which spread southward from the north Champagne region during
the third and second centuries Be, is sometimes attributed to the Belgae. Material
culture evolved further at this time and impressive structures began to be placed in
cemeteries: square enclosures and buildings defined by heavy earthfast wooden
posts. The grave, as such, lost importance as a focus for attention in favour of
monumental superstructures. These latter heralded the development of traditions
represented in due course by Gallo-Roman gravestones and funerary monuments.
BELGIC SANCTUARIES AND SETTLEMENTS
In the north of France, research and rescue work has by chance favoured the
investigation of settlements and sanctuaries. The excellent quality of the results of
aerial survey in Picardy and the early development of extensive excavations in the
Aisne valley have combined to allow the collection of much information about
settlement sites over the past twenty years. The discovery of the Gournay-sur-
Aronde sanctuary (Oise) by accident has led to the excavation of numerous ritual
sites, which have completely altered our perception of Celtic religion. But first we
should discuss two groups of burials which complete the sequence we have identified
in Champagne.
At the start of the Middle La Tene period, cremation burials appeared in this area:
these may correlate with the arrival of Belgic tribes (Figure 29.2). These graves are
surrounded by rectilinear ditches easily discernible by aerial survey. In a sizeable pit,
probably wood-lined, the cremation was accompanied by deposits of food, pottery557