- Celts of Eastern Europe -
of Certosa fibulae. The fibulae of the Hallstatt/La Tene transition are hybrid forms.
They are correctly interpreted -like the La Tene foot-shaped fibulae - as distinctive
variants of the latest Hallstatt crossbow fibulae. The fibulae with bandformigen
Biigel(?) and bent-back footplates are a similar case. They not only show advanced
typological features, but they are also decorated with La Tene motifs.
The animal-form fibulae hybrid forms and so-called exceptional forms area of
particular interest because they can often shed light on the development of particular
stylistic elements (Pauli 1978; Binding 1993).
The late La Tene A phase is also characterized by the eastern alpine animal-head
fibulae. Their distribution stretches as far as the periphery of the eastern early La
Tene cultural province and is densely concentrated in the inner alpine region. They
occur quite frequently at sites where a connection with the south and south-east is
suggested by other finds Qerem 1968; Parzinger 1988; Terian 1976, 1990).
Women's and children's burials are characterized by a great variety of neck
ornaments (Figure 30.8). The composition of bead necklaces (beads of glass, amber,
coral and cowrie shells) allows different trade networks to be traced; while amulets
may be suggestive of commonly held religious beliefs or superstitions (Pauli 1975;
Venclova 1990).
Apart from the neck-rings, which may indicate special status in society or in the
family, we have arm-and foot-rings too; their number and place within the graves
shows regional differences (Lorenz 1978; Bujna 1982).
SETTLEMENT AND HOUSING
Early La Tene settlements present a rather uniform picture as far as topographical
position and internal layout are concerned. The economy was based primarily upon
agriculture and cattle-rearing. A variety of handicrafts (cottage industries) and the
exchange of these products also contributed in large measure to the subsistence
economy. Further information about the everyday life of the early Celtic population
can be anticipated when the results of recent large-scale excavations are fully
available for analysis. Fieldwalking and excavated sites have revealed that open
settlements do not occur at a height of more than 300 m (for economic and
agricultural reasons). The research on some micro-regions in Bohemia, Moravia and
Lake Ferto has shown that the settlement network was extremely well ordered, with
settlements laid out at regular distances from one another - between I. 5 and 3 km.
Most of the villages have two or more cemeteries. The most common house form is
a rectangular structure, with the substantial postholes in the short side (Figure 30.9).
These huts measure between 12 and 25 square metres. The smaller sized ones may be
workshops. The larger sized houses with hearths are assumed to be intended for
habitation. They were sunk into the ground for 40-50 cm, had wattle-and-daub walls
and probably had sloping roofs. Pits and four-post storage structures complete the
picture (Figure 30.10) (Audouze and Buchsenschutz 1992; Meduna 1980; Jerem 1986;
Waldhauser 1986, 1993).
Only indirect evidence of the field systems exists, i.e. cropmarks. No aerial
photographs or excavations have been carried out with the aim of accurately591