FF:AEM_03d European Iron Age - Course Information

AEM_03d European Iron Age

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Petra Goláňová, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Petra Goláňová, Ph.D.
Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Šibíčková
Supplier department: Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts

Prerequisites (in Czech)

Absolvování kurzu AEB_A14d Iron Age in Central Europe výhodou.
Předmět je součástí bloku teoretických přednášek k pravěkým a historickým dějinám Evropy a je určen zájemcům o problematiku.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

By the end of the course students should be familiar with the basic European publications, concerning the period from the 8th century BC to the 1st century AD - including the ancient Greek and Roman authors. It is hoped that students will gain a good understanding of the major issues and interpretation models of contemporary archaeology engaged in this period. They will acquire knowledge of chronological systems and important finds dated to the Iron Age. Presentations are in English only.

Learning outcomes

The student should be able to define and analyse the relations between the Mediterranean in Classical Antiquity and the area of Hallstatt and La Tène cultures, as well as the regional specifics in Iron Age Europe.

Syllabus

• 1. Characteristics of the Iron Age in Europe (social structure, trade, technologies). Periodisation systems of the Iron Age in Europe.
• 2. The origin and technology of ironworking. From the Bronze Age to the Iron Age: transformation. Overview of Greek history of Homeric age, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods. Protogeometric, geometric, orientalising, black- and red-figured painting style. Second Greek colonisation and its archaeological evidence.
• 3. Italy during the Early Iron Age. Regions and chronology. Este, Melaun, Villanova cultures. Greek colonies in South Italy. Etruscans. Etruscan cities. Etruscan culture, language, writing, religion, architecture.
• 4. Eastern Europe during the Early Iron Age. Cultural overview. Early Thracians. Cimmerians and Scythians. Scythian-influenced groups in Lower Danube region and in the Carpathian Basin. Scythian militaria in Central Europe.
• 5. Lusatian Urnfield Culture during the Early Iron Age. Lusatian enclosed settlements/forts - Biskupin a.o. Hallstatt civilisation in Central Europe. Hallstatt site - history of research and characteristics of the site. Hallstatt period, culture and style. Eastern and Western Hallstatt zones. Ethnicity during the Early Iron Age.
• 6. Eastern Hallstatt zone. Middle Danube region (Kalenderberg group) and eastern Alps (Illyrians). Situla art. Social structure of Eastern Hallstatt communities.
• 7. Western Hallstatt zone and its cultures. Richly furnished princely graves of the Late Hallstatt period. Contacts of transalpine Europe with the Mediterranean - imports. Concept of central places at the turn between Early and Late Iron Age. Emergence of Early La Tène Culture.
• 8. Ethnicity and "Celts" in the Late Iron Age. Written and other sources for the study of Late Iron Age. Celts in Greece and Asia Minor - and the evidence of mobility in Central Europe. Periodisation of the La Tène Period.
• 9. Crucial site: Dürrnberg near Hallein and salt mining during the Iron Age. Austria in the La Tène Period. La Tène hill forts in the Middle Danube region. Magdalensberg, kingdom of Noricum and the end of La Tène Period in the Middle Danube region.
• 10. Raeti – settlement in the Alps during the Iron Age. La Tène Period in the Swiss Plateau and Ticino - flat cemeteries, oppida. Eponymous site La Tène and the evidence of rituals. Celts in Italy. Written sources about Celtic expansion. Golasecca Culture. Boii in Italy according to archaeology. Senones, Cenomani and Insubres.
• 11. „Princely“ settlements and graves. Iron Age in France. Funerary component in the Champagne region - wagon graves. Iron Age production centres. Ritual activities. Oppida and Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War. Contacts with classical civilisations in southern France.
• 12. Hunsrück-Eifel Culture. Richly furnished female graves and the final princely graves in the Rhine area. Early La Tène Period in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. Early La Tène hill forts. Flat cemeteries and oppida in Bavaria.
• 13. Iron Age of Iberian Peninsula – cultural influence of surrounding areas, funerary component, enclosed settlements. La Tène and Przeworsk cultures in Poland. Iron Age in Zakarpattia Oblast, Hungary, Romania and in the Balkans. British Isles during the Iron Age. Arras Culture – wagon graves. Aylesford Culture. Burials in the Late La Tène Period. Oppida and enclosed areas.

Literature

required literature
• COLLIS, John. The European iron age. Repr. London: Routledge, 1998, 192 s. ISBN 0415151392. info
• The Celts : origins, myths & inventions. Edited by John Collis. 1st pub. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus, 2003, 256 s. ISBN 0752429132. info
• RIECKHOFF, Sabine and Jörg BIEL. Die Kelten in Deutschland. Edited by Björn Uwe Abels. Stuttgart: Theiss, 2001, 542 s. ISBN 3806213674. info
• ELLIS, Peter Berresford. Keltové : první tisíciletí keltských dějin : 1000 př. Kr. - 51 po Kr. Translated by Richard Podaný. Vyd. 1. Praha: Brána, 1996, 235 s. ISBN 8085946467. info
• PIERREVELCIN, Gilles. Les relations entre la Bohême et la Gaule du IVe au Ier siècle avant J.-C. Edited by Jan Klápště - Zdeněk Měřínský. Praha: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Filozofická fakulta, 2012, 375 s. ISBN 9788073083915. URL info

recommended literature
• Les Celtes. Edited by Sabatino Moscati - Ermanno A. Arslan - Daniele Vitali. 1. éd. [Paris]: Stock, 1997, 718 s. ISBN 2234048443. info
• Iron Age crafts and craftsmen in the Carpathian Basin : proceedings of the international colloquium from Târgu Mureş : 10-13 October 2013. Edited by Sándor Berecki. Târgu Mureş: MEGA, 2014, 328 stran. ISBN 9786065435339. info
• Iron age communities in the Carpathian Basin : proceedings of the international colloquium from Târgu Mureş : 9-11 October 2009. Edited by Sándor Berecki. Cluj-Napoca: MEGA, 2010, 427 s. ISBN 9786065430730. info
• FICHTL, Stephan. La ville celtique : (les oppida de 150 av. J.-C.à 15 ap. J.-C.). 2e éd. corr. et augm. Paris: Errance, 2005, 238 s. ISBN 2877723070. info
• Regards sur la chronologie de la fin de l'âge du Fer (IIIe-Ier siècle avant J.-C.) en Gaule non méditerranéenne : actes de la table ronde tenue à Bibracte, Glux-en-Glenne, 15-17 octobre 2007. Edited by Philippe Barral - Stephan Fichtl. Glux-en-Glenne: Bibracte - Centre archéologique européen, 2012, 341 s. ISBN 9782909668741. info

Teaching methods

lectures

Assessment methods

2 hours lecture, written or oral examination
Requirements: cf. learning outcomes - compulsory reading (at least 2 publications)

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
General note: Posluchači dvouoborového studia volí z přednášek pravěku a středověku evropy tak, aby získali alespoň 18 kreditů.

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/AEM_03d