- Celts of Eastern Europe -
A recent analysis of the human skeletal material deriving from the eastern part of
Austria furnishes valuable data not only of morphological or typological features but
also regarding the population size and mortality rate of the early Celtic inhabitants
(Renhart 1990a, 1990b, 1992). A continuity in both culture and population - similar
to that observed among the western Celts - exists in the eastern province also. Here
too there is significant typological heterogeneity and strong continuity of the earlier
iron age population.
The major feature which distinguishes the eastern group from the west is the
custom of providing the dead with food and drink (joints of meat, iron knives and
pottery) (Figure 30.3); this is a continuation of Hallstatt rituals. Animal bones
included in such deposits were always accompanied by a special knife (Haumesser)
(Osterhaus 1981) and were most commonly from pig, followed by cattle, sheep and
chicken. Sets of drinking vessels and sometimes cooking pots consisted mostly of
types in use in domestic contexts and known from settlement excavations.
Pottery manufactured in local workshops shows a strong continuity of develop-
ment until the introduction of new technology: the potter's wheel. This led to both
an increase in productivity and standardization in form. Decoration now reflected
the new technology - for example cordons and grooves - and was integral to the
form of the pot rather than being applied after the pot itself was made. Wheel-
thrown wares appear already during the course of the fifth century Be (Dehn 1962/3;
Lang 1974, 1976). In addition to the flask-shaped vessels (Linsenf/asche) (Voigt 1969;
Schwappach 1975, 1979) and bowls characteristic of the eastern alpine region
(Dehn 1951), there is a special form of cup decorated with high handles which
terminate either in the form of animal heads or alternatively animal horns Qerem
19 81a, 1987).
Decoration typical of the Hallstatt period, such as graphite painting and burnish-
ing, was used into the early La Tene period. At the same time, stamped decoration
was very popular. This decoration occurred initially on the outer surface of the pots
(particularly flasks and bowls) and on the interior of drinking vessels. These stamps
comprise a combination of circles and other shapes; cylinder stamps were also used.
The designs were imitations of classical decoration and particular to metal vessels. It
is of interest to note that the stamped decoration was sometimes effected with metal
working tools (e.g. punches) and that the pottery vessels themselves were often
skeuomorphs closely imitative in both form and decoration of metal prototypes
(Figure 30.4) (Schwappach 1973; Jerem 1974-5, 1984). Several manufacturing centres
can be identified by means of analysing the fabric of the pots and their stylistic
features and methods of decoration. Interdisciplinary investigation of the clay and
inclusions used to temper it and of samples taken from pottery (petrographic
and chemical analyses) conducted in Bohemia and western Hungary (Kardos et al.
1985; Gosden 1984, 1987; Jerem 1984; Salac 1992) prove that stamped ware is not
only associated with particular workshops, but that it is also traded by means of a
regional distribution network, which can, to some extent, be traced. There is
certainly evidence of trans-regional contacts. Recently, the investigation of graphite-
tempered pottery produced very similar results. In this case the relationship of
sources of raw material, connected workshops and market areas has been analysed
(Waldhauser 1992 , 1994).