This volume is the outcome of a workshop held in Cremona on 29th and 30th April 2023. The meeting... more This volume is the outcome of a workshop held in Cremona on 29th and 30th April 2023. The meeting was jointly organised by the Universities of Milan and Prague, with the support of the Archaeological Museum of Cremona, the Municipality of Cremona – which provided the charming venue of Sala Puerari in Palazzo Affaitati, and the local Superintendence. The fundamental premise of the Cremona meeting was to foster a critical and comparative approach to the study of handmade and/or semi‑fine domestic decorated pottery from the Late Iron Age and the Roman period. To this end, the meeting brought together scholars from France, northern Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland, and Bohemia, who presented and discussed a range of regional productions and styles.
A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia org... more A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia organised in the National Museum in Prague (May 25 2018 - February 24 2019). FULL TEXT ENGLISH VERSION IS FORTHCOMING
A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia org... more A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia organised in the National Museum in Prague (May 25 2018 - October 2019).
The article presents an assemblage of Recent La Tène bronze figurines from the Middle Danube regi... more The article presents an assemblage of Recent La Tène bronze figurines from the Middle Danube region, mostly from the central site of Němčice nad Hanou. The assemblage is analysed from the metrological, typological, and stylistic perspective and set into the context of other bronze figurines discovered earlier at the site or elsewhere in Middle La Tène Central Europe. Typologically and stylistically, the assemblage is consistent with the small-scale statuary characteristic of the cultural area around the centres of Němčice, Roseldorf, and Nowa Cerekwia. Similar finds are rarely discovered outside this zone. The entire typolog ical category and stylistic group seems to have disappeared with the decline of these centres. We therefore argue that the small-scale bronze statuary of the Němčice type co-defines the Němčice-Roseldorf phenomenon in the same way as the more famous and certainly more important coinage and production of glass ornaments. Němčice nad Hanou-La Tène period-bronze figurines-La Tène art-Celtic coinage
The article deals with an unusual find of a stone sculpture of a human head near Hustopeče, South... more The article deals with an unusual find of a stone sculpture of a human head near Hustopeče, South Moravia, Czech Republic. The find took place in 1970‘s during D2 highway construction without any documentation. The article therefore only deals with archaeological comparison of similar finds. The analysis shows that it is probably an individual naive style, which has no regional or chronological analogue. The context of known local archaeological sites does not present an opportunity to understand the origin of the find, the raw materiál (sandstone) may have come from the vicinity of the highway ramp near Blučina, where similar, though untreated, boulders were found in archaeological features.
A fragment of a bronze figurine discovered recently at the Staré Hradisko oppidum, which represen... more A fragment of a bronze figurine discovered recently at the Staré Hradisko oppidum, which represents a female with her arms on the hips, stands out from similar artefacts from a stylistic and technological point of view. The present paper analyses the artefact from the stylistic point of view by setting it into the context of other anthropomorphic statuettes from the Middle Danube area and the technological standpoint utilising microscopy and elemental composition analysis of the alloy. The artefact contributes in an original way to the discussion on the nature of La Tène art in the Recent and Late La Tène period.
A two-edged iron sword was unearthed in a well in the sanctuary of Zeus in Nemea (Greece) in 1979... more A two-edged iron sword was unearthed in a well in the sanctuary of Zeus in Nemea (Greece) in 1979. Remains of a wooden hilt and an iron sheet scabbard with a gold inlay are preserved on it. The typology and technical characteristics of the sword correspond to those of La Tène swords from Central Europe, mainly with those of the early 3rd century BC. The scabbard is decorated with what resembles a crudely drawn pair of dolphins facing one another. It was very likely superficially inspired by the motif of dragons facing one another common on La Tène swords, albeit with no stylistic (and probably also ideological) link between them. The sword was deposited in the well sometime before the abandonment of the sanctuary in 270 BC and it is therefore very likely that it had already been in use in Greece before the Celtic invasion of 279 BC. Some peculiarities of the weapon and its find context make us believe that the sword was not brought to Greece from Central Europe but created and used in the Mediterranean by the locals, who were apparently already familiar with Celtic swords in the early 3rd century BC. The sword thus bears another testimony to quite close contacts between the La Tène and Mediterranean worlds in the periods predating the major clashes documented by written sources.
Seemingly empty spaces in various archaeological settings have left many unanswered questions. Th... more Seemingly empty spaces in various archaeological settings have left many unanswered questions. This paper focuses on the appearance, maintenance and possible function of a large empty area situated at the summit plateau of the Iron Age oppidum Bibracte in France. Multidisciplinary research of the infill of the ditch that delimited this area in the 1 st century BC has provided evidence on the primary function and the formation processes of the structure itself, and for the reconstruction of the appearance, maintenance and function of the area it enclosed. The results allow us to gain insight into a variety of topics, including the role of trees, hygiene measures and waste management strategies at this urbanised hilltop centre. This paper demonstrates that multi-proxy analyses provide detailed insight into the function of archaeological features in a local environmental context and the potential of such approaches in archaeology.
The authors introduce the settlement in Žehuň (district Kolín, Central Bohemia), a La Tène period... more The authors introduce the settlement in Žehuň (district Kolín, Central Bohemia), a La Tène period site that was investigated by surface prospections for four seasons between 2011 and 2014. The results of the chrono-typological analysis of the material assemblage show that Žehuň was an outstanding settlement in terms of exceptionally long-term occupation and concentration of metallic objects including the possibility of local coin production during the Late La Tène period. The site, occupied between the 6th and 1st century BC was located on a long-distance route connecting Central Bohemia with areas in Lower Silesia and through Moravia also Middle Danube. It is very likely that similar regional centres were more common in Bohemia and Moravia; however, we still have almost no information about them so far. The Žehuň settlement thus brings important information on the hierarchy of open settlements during both the Middle (‘pre-oppida phase’) and Late (‘oppida phase’) La Tène period.
This volume is the outcome of a workshop held in Cremona on 29th and 30th April 2023. The meeting... more This volume is the outcome of a workshop held in Cremona on 29th and 30th April 2023. The meeting was jointly organised by the Universities of Milan and Prague, with the support of the Archaeological Museum of Cremona, the Municipality of Cremona – which provided the charming venue of Sala Puerari in Palazzo Affaitati, and the local Superintendence. The fundamental premise of the Cremona meeting was to foster a critical and comparative approach to the study of handmade and/or semi‑fine domestic decorated pottery from the Late Iron Age and the Roman period. To this end, the meeting brought together scholars from France, northern Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland, and Bohemia, who presented and discussed a range of regional productions and styles.
A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia org... more A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia organised in the National Museum in Prague (May 25 2018 - February 24 2019). FULL TEXT ENGLISH VERSION IS FORTHCOMING
A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia org... more A multi-author volume published at the occassion of a major exhibition on Iron Age in Bohemia organised in the National Museum in Prague (May 25 2018 - October 2019).
The article presents an assemblage of Recent La Tène bronze figurines from the Middle Danube regi... more The article presents an assemblage of Recent La Tène bronze figurines from the Middle Danube region, mostly from the central site of Němčice nad Hanou. The assemblage is analysed from the metrological, typological, and stylistic perspective and set into the context of other bronze figurines discovered earlier at the site or elsewhere in Middle La Tène Central Europe. Typologically and stylistically, the assemblage is consistent with the small-scale statuary characteristic of the cultural area around the centres of Němčice, Roseldorf, and Nowa Cerekwia. Similar finds are rarely discovered outside this zone. The entire typolog ical category and stylistic group seems to have disappeared with the decline of these centres. We therefore argue that the small-scale bronze statuary of the Němčice type co-defines the Němčice-Roseldorf phenomenon in the same way as the more famous and certainly more important coinage and production of glass ornaments. Němčice nad Hanou-La Tène period-bronze figurines-La Tène art-Celtic coinage
The article deals with an unusual find of a stone sculpture of a human head near Hustopeče, South... more The article deals with an unusual find of a stone sculpture of a human head near Hustopeče, South Moravia, Czech Republic. The find took place in 1970‘s during D2 highway construction without any documentation. The article therefore only deals with archaeological comparison of similar finds. The analysis shows that it is probably an individual naive style, which has no regional or chronological analogue. The context of known local archaeological sites does not present an opportunity to understand the origin of the find, the raw materiál (sandstone) may have come from the vicinity of the highway ramp near Blučina, where similar, though untreated, boulders were found in archaeological features.
A fragment of a bronze figurine discovered recently at the Staré Hradisko oppidum, which represen... more A fragment of a bronze figurine discovered recently at the Staré Hradisko oppidum, which represents a female with her arms on the hips, stands out from similar artefacts from a stylistic and technological point of view. The present paper analyses the artefact from the stylistic point of view by setting it into the context of other anthropomorphic statuettes from the Middle Danube area and the technological standpoint utilising microscopy and elemental composition analysis of the alloy. The artefact contributes in an original way to the discussion on the nature of La Tène art in the Recent and Late La Tène period.
A two-edged iron sword was unearthed in a well in the sanctuary of Zeus in Nemea (Greece) in 1979... more A two-edged iron sword was unearthed in a well in the sanctuary of Zeus in Nemea (Greece) in 1979. Remains of a wooden hilt and an iron sheet scabbard with a gold inlay are preserved on it. The typology and technical characteristics of the sword correspond to those of La Tène swords from Central Europe, mainly with those of the early 3rd century BC. The scabbard is decorated with what resembles a crudely drawn pair of dolphins facing one another. It was very likely superficially inspired by the motif of dragons facing one another common on La Tène swords, albeit with no stylistic (and probably also ideological) link between them. The sword was deposited in the well sometime before the abandonment of the sanctuary in 270 BC and it is therefore very likely that it had already been in use in Greece before the Celtic invasion of 279 BC. Some peculiarities of the weapon and its find context make us believe that the sword was not brought to Greece from Central Europe but created and used in the Mediterranean by the locals, who were apparently already familiar with Celtic swords in the early 3rd century BC. The sword thus bears another testimony to quite close contacts between the La Tène and Mediterranean worlds in the periods predating the major clashes documented by written sources.
Seemingly empty spaces in various archaeological settings have left many unanswered questions. Th... more Seemingly empty spaces in various archaeological settings have left many unanswered questions. This paper focuses on the appearance, maintenance and possible function of a large empty area situated at the summit plateau of the Iron Age oppidum Bibracte in France. Multidisciplinary research of the infill of the ditch that delimited this area in the 1 st century BC has provided evidence on the primary function and the formation processes of the structure itself, and for the reconstruction of the appearance, maintenance and function of the area it enclosed. The results allow us to gain insight into a variety of topics, including the role of trees, hygiene measures and waste management strategies at this urbanised hilltop centre. This paper demonstrates that multi-proxy analyses provide detailed insight into the function of archaeological features in a local environmental context and the potential of such approaches in archaeology.
The authors introduce the settlement in Žehuň (district Kolín, Central Bohemia), a La Tène period... more The authors introduce the settlement in Žehuň (district Kolín, Central Bohemia), a La Tène period site that was investigated by surface prospections for four seasons between 2011 and 2014. The results of the chrono-typological analysis of the material assemblage show that Žehuň was an outstanding settlement in terms of exceptionally long-term occupation and concentration of metallic objects including the possibility of local coin production during the Late La Tène period. The site, occupied between the 6th and 1st century BC was located on a long-distance route connecting Central Bohemia with areas in Lower Silesia and through Moravia also Middle Danube. It is very likely that similar regional centres were more common in Bohemia and Moravia; however, we still have almost no information about them so far. The Žehuň settlement thus brings important information on the hierarchy of open settlements during both the Middle (‘pre-oppida phase’) and Late (‘oppida phase’) La Tène period.
This contribution summarises our state of knowledge of metal working activities in the long-resea... more This contribution summarises our state of knowledge of metal working activities in the long-researched oppidum of Třísov; from the excavations of the National Museum in the 1950s-1980s to the extensive prospections in recent years. The spatial pattern of specialised production of non-ferrous metals is outlined based on the spatial distribution of characteristic features and finds. The first results of the chemical and isotope analyses of a selection of bronze objects are presented, pointing out the hypothesis of the extensive recycling common at the oppida in the late La Tène period that possibly involved also objects obtained through long distance contacts. Late La Tène-oppidum-bronze-metallurgy-workshop-geochemistry-isotopes
The presented article is focused on finds of the Greek coins in Transalpine Europe. Based mainly ... more The presented article is focused on finds of the Greek coins in Transalpine Europe. Based mainly on comparison between the central-European and north-Italian facies, it classifies influx of the Greek coins in three chronological horizons. The role of north Italy as a mediator of these contacts is clear mainly in the middle and the latest sections of these horizons. The analysis shows that explanation of the processes which brought the Greek coins across the Alps lies beyond description of the real and known events. Úvod Tento příspěvek předkládá několik úvah o přítomnosti a funkci řeckých mincí ve střední Evropě mladší doby železné. Dosažení jasných jednoznačných historických interpretací, by v této otázce bylo cílem přespříliš ambiciózním. Předloženy jsou zde proto pouze některé předběžné závěry plynoucí z pozorova-ných distribučních vzorců, na úrovni interpretace je zde pak prezentováno několik nezávazných hypotéz. Je důležité zdůraznit, že k problematice je přistupováno především z pohledu archeologie. Řecké mince v Zaalpské Evropě mladší doby železné? Snaha o zhodnocení nálezů řeckých mincí ve střední Evropě byla a je komplikována jistými epistemologic-kými překážkami. Především, jelikož u bezmála všech nálezů postrádáme jakoukoliv smysluplnou informa-ci o nálezových okolnostech, nemůžeme si být vždy jisti, kdy došlo k archeologizaci dané mince ve středo-evropském prostředí (stalo se tak v době železné, v době císařské či snad ještě později?), tím méně jasno pak je, kdy byla tato mince přes Alpy přenesena. Příkladem oprávněnosti takových pochyb (jedním z mnoha) je například bronz Ptolemaia I. Sótéra nalezený v římském vojenském táboře Saalburg (Nick 2006), zalo-ženém na sklonku 1. století po Kristu v oblasti bez předchozího osídlení. Ptolemaiova mince zde tak byla přítomna (a uložena do země) minimálně 400 let po svém vyražení a v prostředí, v němž nemohla mít žád-nou hodnotu mincovní. Příčiny přítomnosti této a dalších podobných mincí 1 v kontextech doby římské nám nejsou známy, jedná se však o svědectví zdaleka ne ojedinělé a dostatečně pádné, aby bylo možno na jeho základě uvažovat o tom, zda náhodou všechny řecké mince, nalezené ve střední Evropě, sem nedorazily až v době římské. Důkaz o tom, že tomu tak nebylo a že přinejmenším jistá část nálezových řeckých mincí ze střední Evropy souvisí již s předřímskou dobou železnou, poskytl objev sídliště v Němčících nad Hanou (Čižmář – Kolníková 2006; Čižmář – Kolníková – Noeske 2008; Kolníková 2012). Mezi tisícovkou publi-kovaných mincovních nálezů z lokality jsou ražby různých středomořských emitentů helénistického období zastoupeny zhruba osmdesáti – vesměs bronzovými – mincemi. 2 To je zcela přesvědčivým dokladem toho, že soudobé řecké mince byly ve střední Evropě 2. poloviny 3. a počátku 2. století před Kristem (LT C1–C2) přítomny (dokonce ve značném objemu), a můžeme tedy předpokládat, že zde plnily jistou funkci. 1 Např. mince Prusiova (Bithyne), Menandrova (Baktrie) a mamertinská z Augsburgu (Nick 2006, 83), kartginská mince z Frankfurtu (Nick 2006, 107), či mince Megary (307–243 před Kristem) a Massinissy (Numidie) a Arety IV. Filopatora (Nabatea) z římské silniční stanice Rheinbach Flerzheim, kde spektrum římských mincí sahá od ojedinělých republikánských denárů (170, 78 a 42–40 před Kristem) přes Augusta až po Honoria (Nick 2006, 187–188). 2 Poslední přehled (Kolníková 2012) uvádí 1070 kusů mincí, z nich 83 středomořských, 76 řeckých ve zde užívaném slova smyslu.
St. Marion - S. Deffressigne - J. Kaurin - G. Bataille (eds.): Production et proto-industrialisation aux âges du Fer : perspectives sociales et environnementales. Actes du 39e colloque international de l'AFEAF. Nancy, 14-17 mai 2015. Bordeaux, 467-474
This report summarizes the starting points, methods and results of the archaeological research of... more This report summarizes the starting points, methods and results of the archaeological research of the Czech-Uzbek team investigating the Hellenistic se lements in the vicinity of Darband, in the upper reaches of the Sherabad Darya, in the Baysun District of southern Uzbekistan in season 2019. A significant amount of archaeological material has been obtained using a systematic surface metal detector survey and targeted excavations of a limited scope. We were able to confirm that some of these sites, such as Daganajam Tepa and perhaps also Mirzali, were inhabited only in the Hellenistic period, while in the case of the others, a se lement in the 3 rd and 2 nd centuries BC was only one of their occupation phases (Kapchigay Tepa, Darband wall).
The current report presents the results of the 2017 excavations of two prehistoric sites in, or... more The current report presents the results of the 2017 excavations of two prehistoric sites in, or in the vicinity of, the Zarabag Oasis, South Uzbekistan. In the Yaz I settlement of Burgut Kurgan, the 2017 excavation season focused on a small portion of the stone wall and was not able to confirm the presence of a gate hypothesised during the 2016 excavations. A trial excavation consisting of three trenches (BBL01–BBL03) was conducted at the site of Bobolangar, which was discovered during a previous field survey in 2016. The pottery sherds collected on the surface of Bobolanghar were from the Late Bronze Age and the date of the site was confirmed by the presence of Late Bronze Age pottery in secure stratigraphic contexts. Moreover, two burials were found in trench BBL03. Based on the characteristics of the burial traditions, it is likely that both individuals were interred during the Middle Ages and the graves were cut into the Late Bronze Age layers of the site. The human skeletons were exceptionally well ‑preserved and preliminary details of the bioarchaeological analyses are presented here.
In its three field seasons between 2015 and 2017 the Czech‑Uzbekistani archaeological mission has... more In its three field seasons between 2015 and 2017 the Czech‑Uzbekistani archaeological mission has focused on the area of the eastern Kugitang piedmonts, especially the Paskhurt Valley (southern Uzbekistan) in order to examine its historical cultural development. As one of the simultaneous activities, excavations of various selected kurgans and kurgan‑like features, which were newly detected in the area have been undertaken. Special attention was paid to the connection between kurgans and settlement sites nearby, particularly those of the Yaz I period (Early Iron Age Period, late 2nd millennium BC). Three kurgans of the Yaz I period have been uncovered, however their purpose was not identified with a sepulchral use, but rather with a ritual one. Besides the excavation of – in local terms – larger kurgans at the site of Kayrit 1, lesser simple stone structures were also excavated.
The paper summarises the results of the second season of exploration of the Yaz I walled settleme... more The paper summarises the results of the second season of exploration of the Yaz I walled settlement of Burgut Kurgan, south Uzbekistan. The 2016 excavations concentrated on the further investigation of the stone wall and on bringing to light one entire settlement unit.
This text summarizes the preliminary results of the first season of archaeological excavations at... more This text summarizes the preliminary results of the first season of archaeological excavations at the site of Burgut Kurgan in Pashkhurt Valley, south Uzbekistan, which were conducted by the Czech-Uzbekistani-French team in 2015. The site represents a unique walled settlement of the transitional period between the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age of southern Central Asia.
This text summarizes the preliminary results of the first season of archaeological excavations at... more This text summarizes the preliminary results of the first season of archaeological excavations at the site of Burgut Kurgan in Pashkhurt Valley, south Uzbekistan, which were conducted by the Czech-Uzbekistani-French team in 2015. The site represents a unique walled settlement of the transitional period between the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age of southern Central Asia.
Um das Jahr 1900 lernte Joseph Déchelette die Arbeiten von Josef Ladislav Píč über den Hradiště b... more Um das Jahr 1900 lernte Joseph Déchelette die Arbeiten von Josef Ladislav Píč über den Hradiště bei Stradonice kennen und verknüpfte sie mit seinen eigenen Forschungen auf dem Mont Beuvray. Seitdem ist die Idee einer einheitlichen und sich über weite Teile Europas erstreckenden materiellen Kultur der Latènezeit geboren. Diese " Oppidazivilisation " inspirierte die Archäologie, aus der Abfolge der Hallstatt-und Latènekultur ein einheitliches Kulturmodell zu entwickeln, wobei dieses Modell seit mindestens 20 Jahren in Frage gestellt wird. Auf Basis derselben Kriterien, mit denen man eine Einheit dieser archäologischen Kulturen zu postulieren versuchte, lassen sich verschiedene regionale Varianten vor dem Hintergrund spezifischer geographischer Maßstäbe unterscheiden. Die Kriterien erlauben ferner, vermischte oder eigenständige Kulturen in vielfältiger Form zu differenzieren. Diese Kriterien, Charakteristika oder " kulturellen Marker " zeigen sich in unterschiedlicher Weise im Fundgut, in Siedlungsformen, Grabsitten, in der Siedlungsstruktur etc.
Die Tagung in Prag hat zum Ziel, einen neuen Forschungsstand über die unterschiedlichen Formen der Eisenzeit im bisweilen als " keltisch " definierten Mittel-und Westeuropa und seinem unmittelbaren Umfeld zu gewinnen. In einem (mikro-)regionalen bis europaweiten Ansatz geht es darum, die Stichhaltigkeit des Nachweises regionaler Gruppen, die heute vermutet werden oder allgemein akzeptiert sind, zu überprüfen, aber auch die Frage nach der Interpretation dieser archäologischen Einheiten im weiteren Sinne zu stellen.
Autour de 1900, Joseph Déchelette découvrait les travaux de Josef Ladislav Píč au Hradiště de Str... more Autour de 1900, Joseph Déchelette découvrait les travaux de Josef Ladislav Píč au Hradiště de Stradonice et faisait un rapprochement avec ses propres recherches au Mont Beuvray. De là est née l'idée d'une culture matérielle laténienne unitaire et étendue à une large partie de l'Europe à la fin de l'âge du Fer. Cette « civilisation des oppida » a inspiré les archéologues suivants qui ont pensé les cultures successives de Hallstatt et de La Tène sur un mode unitaire, même si ce modèle est, depuis une vingtaine d'années au moins, remis en question. À l'inverse, de la même manière que l'on a été amené à envisager l'unité de ces cultures archéologiques, certaines caractéristiques permettent aujourd'hui de discerner des variantes régionales internes, à différentes échelles géographiques, mais aussi l'existence de cultures hybrides ou originales, constituant autant de formes de diversité. Ces caractéristiques, ou marqueurs culturels, se manifestent de différentes manières dans le mobilier, les formes de l'habitat, les pratiques funéraires, l'organisation du territoire, etc.
Le colloque de Prague a pour ambition de proposer un nouvel état des recherches sur nos approches des différentes cultures archéologiques de l'âge du Fer en Europe centrale et occidentale, dans une aire qui est parfois et en partie décrite comme « celtique ». De l'échelle (micro-)régionale à l'échelle européenne, il s'agira notamment d'interroger le degré de pertinence des groupes culturels aujourd'hui reconnus ou pressentis, mais aussi, plus largement, de poser la question de l'interprétation de ces ensembles archéologiques.
Intorno al 1900, Joseph Déchelette venne a conoscenza delle ricerche di Josef Ladislav Píč a Hrad... more Intorno al 1900, Joseph Déchelette venne a conoscenza delle ricerche di Josef Ladislav Píč a Hradiště di Stradonice e le mise a confronto con le scoperte da lui stesso effettuate a Mont Beuvray. Da lì scaturì l’idea dell’esistenza di un'unica cultura materiale lateniana, estesa ad un’ampia parte dell’Europa e individuabile verso lo scorcio dell’età del ferro. Tale cultura denominata “civilisation des oppida” (Civiltà degli oppida) ispirò gli archeologi che, da allora, considerarono la cultura di Hallstatt e quella successiva di Latene in modo unitario; tale modello è stato rimesso in discussione negli ultimi venti anni. Alcune delle caratteristiche che indussero a considerare tali culture come unitarie, permettono oggi di riconoscere non solo delle variazioni regionali interne, visibili a scale geografiche differenti, ma anche di rilevare l’esistenza di culture miste o particolari, espressioni di una grande varietà culturale. Tali caratteristiche, o marker culturali, si possono manifestare in diversi modi nelle produzioni materiali, nei modi d’occupazione, nelle pratiche funerarie, o nell’organizzazione territoriale…
Il convegno di Praga ha quindi come obiettivo quello di presentare lo stato attuale delle ricerche basandosi su nuovi approcci di studio delle differenti culture archeologiche dell’età del ferro in Europa centrale e occidentale, in una vasta zona tradizionalmente o in parte definita come “celtica”. L’obiettivo è quello di interrogarsi, dalla scala (micro-)regionale a quella europea, sulla pertinenza o meno dei gruppi culturali come sinora definiti o percepiti e più in generale di valutare le modalità di interpretazione di tali gruppi.
Around 1900, Joseph Déchelette discovered the work of Josef Ladislav Píč on the Hradiště of Strad... more Around 1900, Joseph Déchelette discovered the work of Josef Ladislav Píč on the Hradiště of Stradonice and made a connection with his own research on Mont Beuvray. From here, the idea of a uniform La Tène material culture encompassing a large part of Europe at the end of the Iron Age was born. This ‘civilization of the oppida’ inspired archaeologists, who considered the successive cultures of Hallstatt and La Tène in a unified whole, although this model has been questioned for at least twenty years. On the contrary, in the same way that we came to consider the unity of these archaeological cultures, some characteristics allow us today to detect internal regional differences at various geographical scales. It also allows us to discern the existence of mixed or original cultures, with many diverse forms. These characteristics, or cultural markers, manifest themselves in different ways through the artefacts, the forms of settlements, burial practices, territorial organisation, etc.
The aim of the Prague AFEAF Conference is to propose a new state of research on our approaches to the different archaeological cultures of the Iron Age in Central and Western Europe, in an area that is sometimes described as ‘Celtic’. From the (micro-)regional to the European scale, it will be necessary to examine the degree of relevance of the cultural groups that are now recognized or perceived, but also, more widely, to raise the question of the interpretation of these archaeological entities.
Kolem roku 1900 se Joseph Déchelette seznámil s pracemi J. L. Píče o Hradišti u Stradonic. Z jeho... more Kolem roku 1900 se Joseph Déchelette seznámil s pracemi J. L. Píče o Hradišti u Stradonic. Z jeho srovnání Stradonic s Mont Beuvray vzešla myšlenka jednotné laténské kultury pokrývající na konci doby železné velkou část Evropy. Tato představa " oppidální kultury " inspirovala podobné úvahy o jednotnosti kultury Halštatské a Laténské. Tento model je však již po minimálně dvě desetiletí předmětem kritiky. V této domnělé kulturní jednotě, lze totiž na základě různých kritérií rozlišit varianty na různých geografických úrovních, ale zároveň v ní identifikovat kultury smíšené či zcela osobité. Tato kritéria či kulturní rysy mohou zahrnovat artefakty, sídlištní formy, pohřební praktiky, organisaci osídlení atd.
Pražská konference si klade za cíl představit současný stav bádání o našich přístupech k různorodosti archeologických kultur doby železné ve střední a západní Evropě – v oblasti, která (nebo jejíž část) je někdy označována jako " keltská ". Na všech úrovních, od mikroregionální po celoevropskou, se budeme především tázat po tom, do jaké míry odpovídají dnes uznávané či předpokládané kulturní skupiny minulé skutečnosti ale také po tom, jak tyto archeologické celky nejvhodněji interpretovat.
The article presents an assemblage of Recent La Tène bronze figurines from the Middle Danube regi... more The article presents an assemblage of Recent La Tène bronze figurines from the Middle Danube region, mostly from the central site of Němčice nad Hanou. The assemblage is analysed from the metrological, typological, and stylistic perspective and set into the context of other bronze figurines discovered earlier at the site or elsewhere in Middle La Tène Central Europe. Typologically and stylistically, the assemblage is consistent with the small-scale statuary characteristic of the cultural area around the centres of Němčice, Roseldorf, and Nowa Cerekwia. Similar finds are rarely discovered outside this zone. The entire typolog ical category and stylistic group seems to have disappeared with the decline of these centres. We therefore argue that the small-scale bronze statuary of the Němčice type co-defines the Němčice-Roseldorf phenomenon in the same way as the more famous and certainly more important coinage and production of glass ornaments. Němčice nad Hanou-La Tène period-bronze figurines-La Tène art-Celtic coinage
A fragment of a bronze figurine discovered recently at the Staré Hradisko oppidum, which represen... more A fragment of a bronze figurine discovered recently at the Staré Hradisko oppidum, which represents a female with her arms on the hips, stands out from similar artefacts from a stylistic and technological point of view. The present paper analyses the artefact from the stylistic point of view by setting it into the context of other anthropomorphic statuettes from the Middle Danube area and the technological standpoint utilising microscopy and elemental composition analysis of the alloy. The artefact contributes in an original way to the discussion on the nature of La Tène art in the Recent and Late La Tène period.
A two-edged iron sword was unearthed in a well in the sanctuary of Zeus in Nemea (Greece) in 1979... more A two-edged iron sword was unearthed in a well in the sanctuary of Zeus in Nemea (Greece) in 1979. Remains of a wooden hilt and an iron sheet scabbard with a gold inlay are preserved on it. The typology and technical characteristics of the sword correspond to those of La Tène swords from Central Europe, mainly with those of the early 3rd century BC. The scabbard is decorated with what resembles a crudely drawn pair of dolphins facing one another. It was very likely superficially inspired by the motif of dragons facing one another common on La Tène swords, albeit with no stylistic (and probably also ideological) link between them. The sword was deposited in the well sometime before the abandonment of the sanctuary in 270 BC and it is therefore very likely that it had already been in use in Greece before the Celtic invasion of 279 BC. Some peculiarities of the weapon and its find context make us believe that the sword was not brought to Greece from Central Europe but created and used ...
aBStraCt The paper discusses a bronze pendant in the form of an embraced human couple. Though sai... more aBStraCt The paper discusses a bronze pendant in the form of an embraced human couple. Though said to have been found in Jaroměř, Eastern Bohemia, the artefact clearly belongs to a well defined group of pendants pro‑ duced in the 9 th –8 th c. BC in Southern Italy. The paper discusses typological determination, chronology and iconography of the artefact as well as the problematic question of its authenticity. Úvod V Národním museu v Praze je chován pozoruhodný artefakt: drobná bronzová soška zob‑ razující dvě figurky – muže a ženu – držící se kolem ramen. Pokusy o včlenění předmětu do rámce archeologického záznamu českých zemí vedlo zatím k závěrům spíše rozpačitým, v tomto příspěvku se proto pokusíme o jeho uchopení z hlediska archeologie středomořské a archeologie vztahů mezi Středomořím a střední Evropou. Artefakt (Obr. 1, Pl. 4/1) o celkové výšce 42 mm představuje dvě frontální, symetricky umístěné lidské figurky – napravo muže, nalevo ženu – držící se navzájem " vnitřní " paží ko‑ lem ramen zatímco " vnější " paže jsou založeny v bok, a vytváří tak po stranách dvě kruhová očka (o artefaktu proto nadále hovoříme jako o závěsku). Postavy jsou vyobrazeny stojící s mírně pokrčenýma nohama spočívajícíma na společném příčném soklíku. Z anatomických detailů jsou na figurkách zvýrazněny velké kulovité oči, ústa a pohlavní orgány. Krom toho jsou těla pojata zcela schématicky – trojúhelníkové hlavy na masivních cylindrických krcích, nepřirozená délka těla oproti poměrně krátkým nohám atd. Na předmětu lze místy sledovat defekty odlití (bubliny) – nejnápadněji na pravém kolenu mužské postavy. Očko tvořené v bok založenou paží ženské postavy je ve spodní části zeslabeno, ať už vinou chybného odlití či poškození za života artefaktu. Uložení: Národní museum Praha, inv. č. H1‑105613. Viz i kat. č. 1. SvědECtví arCHivů Z JAROMěŘE (?) PŘES SV. JANA POD SKALOU DO NÁRODNÍHO MUSEA Předmět pochází ze sbírky Štěpána Bergera s údajným původem z Jaroměře. Žádné bližší podrobnosti o provenienci, tím méně nálezové okolnosti, nejsou známy. První nám známá zmínka o studovaném předmětu pochází z r. 1898. Po smrti Štěpána Bergera (1844–1897) se přistoupilo k – předem domluvenému – odkupu jeho mimořádné sbírky (převážně) českých " starožitností " českým zemským výborem, který jej následně plánoval uložit do Národního mu‑
The article presents an assemblage of artefacts discovered at the foot of a rock near Stebno (Lou... more The article presents an assemblage of artefacts discovered at the foot of a rock near Stebno (Louny distr.) and interpreted as a ritual hoard from stage LT B1/B2 from which there are no other traces of human presence in the region. The assemblage included a pottery bowl, La Tène women’s ring ornament set and a unique bronze basin of central Italian origin. An analysis of the hoard, including macro-remains and palynological analyses, raises questions on the relationship between central Europe and the Mediterranean, the human presence in the region during the La Tène period and on ritual activities in the La Tène period.
Kysela, J. – Bursák, D. – Houfková, P. – Šálková, T. 2017: Stebno-Nouze: pozoruhodný laténský depot z Podbořanska. Archeologické rozhledy 69, 74-108.
Kysela - Danielisová - Militký eds.: Stories that Made the Iron Age. Studies in Iron Age Archaeology dedicated to Natalie Venclová
This contribution summarises our state of knowledge of metal working activities in the long-resea... more This contribution summarises our state of knowledge of metal working activities in the long-researched oppidum of Třísov; from the excavations of the National Museum in the 1950s–1980s to the extensive prospections in recent years. The spatial pattern of specialised production of non-ferrous metals is outlined based on the spatial distribution of characteristic features and finds. The first results of the chemical and isotope analyses of a selection of bronze objects are presented, pointing out the hypothesis of the extensive recycling common at the oppida in the late La Tène period that possibly involved also objects obtained through long distance contacts. Late La Tène — oppidum — bronze — metallurgy — workshop — geochemistry — isotopes
I. Peer -reviewed studies
The Sacral Knot and Its Iconographic Use
Monika Matoušková — 9
Late Bronze Age Settlement History of Emporio on Chios Reconsidered
Kristina Jarošová — 32
‘A Marriage of the Aegean and the Orient’. Bronzes of the Siana Group Reconsidered
Miloš Roháček — 52
Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Pottery in the Upper Thracian Plain, Tundzha Valley and the Burgas Lowland, Bulgaria – Diversity, Technology and Distribution
Rositsa Hristova — 83
II. Reports
Kyzyl Gul – e Relicts of an Abandoned Village in Kugitang Piedmont (South Uzbekistan)
Anna Augustinová – Petr Mach – Petra Cejnarová — 121
Kurgans of the Eastern Kugitang Piedmonts. Preliminary Report for Season 2018
Jakub Havlík – Hana Havlíková – Ladislav Stančo — 147
International Workshop - Cremona (Italy), 29-30 April 2023
Since the good old days of antiquarianism a larger part of archaeological research has been tradi... more Since the good old days of antiquarianism a larger part of archaeological research has been traditionally attracted by luxury items, shiny metal objects, and anything just looking precious, pretty or prestigious. The time has come to gaze upon something far less appealing, but rather unexplored and with remarkable informative potential: the hideous and cheap domestic ware, locally produced by the uncultured tribes of barbaric Europe to gobble up their broths and fermented beverages! This conference addresses a group of domestic pottery classes characterised by handmade or throwing manufacture, low firing temperatures and a spectrum of decorations including incisions, fingernail impressions and plastic techniques. Similar pots with recurrent decorations are known in northern Italy, in France and in central Europe and is traditionally linked with the spread of the La Tène culture, until (and beyond!) the so-called 'Romanization' process.
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Books by Jan Kysela
The fundamental premise of the Cremona meeting was to foster a critical and comparative approach to the study of handmade and/or semi‑fine domestic decorated pottery from the Late Iron Age and the Roman period. To this end, the meeting brought together scholars from France, northern Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland, and Bohemia, who presented and discussed a range of regional productions and styles.
https://dspace.cuni.cz/handle/20.500.11956/171021
available at:
https://e-shop.ff.cuni.cz/ffuk/eoc/product/10621773
FULL TEXT ENGLISH VERSION IS FORTHCOMING
Papers by Jan Kysela
wooden hilt and an iron sheet scabbard with a gold inlay are preserved on it. The typology and technical characteristics
of the sword correspond to those of La Tène swords from Central Europe, mainly with those of the early 3rd century BC.
The scabbard is decorated with what resembles a crudely drawn pair of dolphins facing one another. It was very likely
superficially inspired by the motif of dragons facing one another common on La Tène swords, albeit with no stylistic (and
probably also ideological) link between them. The sword was deposited in the well sometime before the abandonment of
the sanctuary in 270 BC and it is therefore very likely that it had already been in use in Greece before the Celtic invasion of
279 BC. Some peculiarities of the weapon and its find context make us believe that the sword was not brought to Greece
from Central Europe but created and used in the Mediterranean by the locals, who were apparently already familiar with
Celtic swords in the early 3rd century BC. The sword thus bears another testimony to quite close contacts between the La
Tène and Mediterranean worlds in the periods predating the major clashes documented by written sources.
prospections for four seasons between 2011 and 2014. The results of the chrono-typological analysis of the material assemblage show
that Žehuň was an outstanding settlement in terms of exceptionally long-term occupation and concentration of metallic objects including
the possibility of local coin production during the Late La Tène period. The site, occupied between the 6th and 1st century BC was
located on a long-distance route connecting Central Bohemia with areas in Lower Silesia and through Moravia also Middle Danube.
It is very likely that similar regional centres were more common in Bohemia and Moravia; however, we still have almost no information
about them so far. The Žehuň settlement thus brings important information on the hierarchy of open settlements during both the
Middle (‘pre-oppida phase’) and Late (‘oppida phase’) La Tène period.
The fundamental premise of the Cremona meeting was to foster a critical and comparative approach to the study of handmade and/or semi‑fine domestic decorated pottery from the Late Iron Age and the Roman period. To this end, the meeting brought together scholars from France, northern Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland, and Bohemia, who presented and discussed a range of regional productions and styles.
https://dspace.cuni.cz/handle/20.500.11956/171021
available at:
https://e-shop.ff.cuni.cz/ffuk/eoc/product/10621773
FULL TEXT ENGLISH VERSION IS FORTHCOMING
wooden hilt and an iron sheet scabbard with a gold inlay are preserved on it. The typology and technical characteristics
of the sword correspond to those of La Tène swords from Central Europe, mainly with those of the early 3rd century BC.
The scabbard is decorated with what resembles a crudely drawn pair of dolphins facing one another. It was very likely
superficially inspired by the motif of dragons facing one another common on La Tène swords, albeit with no stylistic (and
probably also ideological) link between them. The sword was deposited in the well sometime before the abandonment of
the sanctuary in 270 BC and it is therefore very likely that it had already been in use in Greece before the Celtic invasion of
279 BC. Some peculiarities of the weapon and its find context make us believe that the sword was not brought to Greece
from Central Europe but created and used in the Mediterranean by the locals, who were apparently already familiar with
Celtic swords in the early 3rd century BC. The sword thus bears another testimony to quite close contacts between the La
Tène and Mediterranean worlds in the periods predating the major clashes documented by written sources.
prospections for four seasons between 2011 and 2014. The results of the chrono-typological analysis of the material assemblage show
that Žehuň was an outstanding settlement in terms of exceptionally long-term occupation and concentration of metallic objects including
the possibility of local coin production during the Late La Tène period. The site, occupied between the 6th and 1st century BC was
located on a long-distance route connecting Central Bohemia with areas in Lower Silesia and through Moravia also Middle Danube.
It is very likely that similar regional centres were more common in Bohemia and Moravia; however, we still have almost no information
about them so far. The Žehuň settlement thus brings important information on the hierarchy of open settlements during both the
Middle (‘pre-oppida phase’) and Late (‘oppida phase’) La Tène period.
‑preserved and preliminary details of the bioarchaeological analyses are presented here.
Auf Basis derselben Kriterien, mit denen man eine Einheit dieser archäologischen Kulturen zu postulieren versuchte, lassen sich verschiedene regionale Varianten vor dem Hintergrund spezifischer geographischer Maßstäbe unterscheiden. Die Kriterien erlauben ferner, vermischte oder eigenständige Kulturen in vielfältiger Form zu differenzieren. Diese Kriterien, Charakteristika oder " kulturellen Marker " zeigen sich in unterschiedlicher Weise im Fundgut, in Siedlungsformen, Grabsitten, in der Siedlungsstruktur etc.
Die Tagung in Prag hat zum Ziel, einen neuen Forschungsstand über die unterschiedlichen Formen der Eisenzeit im bisweilen als " keltisch " definierten Mittel-und Westeuropa und seinem unmittelbaren Umfeld zu gewinnen. In einem (mikro-)regionalen bis europaweiten Ansatz geht es darum, die Stichhaltigkeit des Nachweises regionaler Gruppen, die heute vermutet werden oder allgemein akzeptiert sind, zu überprüfen, aber auch die Frage nach der Interpretation dieser archäologischen Einheiten im weiteren Sinne zu stellen.
À l'inverse, de la même manière que l'on a été amené à envisager l'unité de ces cultures archéologiques, certaines caractéristiques permettent aujourd'hui de discerner des variantes régionales internes, à différentes échelles géographiques, mais aussi l'existence de cultures hybrides ou originales, constituant autant de formes de diversité. Ces caractéristiques, ou marqueurs culturels, se manifestent de différentes manières dans le mobilier, les formes de l'habitat, les pratiques funéraires, l'organisation du territoire, etc.
Le colloque de Prague a pour ambition de proposer un nouvel état des recherches sur nos approches des différentes cultures archéologiques de l'âge du Fer en Europe centrale et occidentale, dans une aire qui est parfois et en partie décrite comme « celtique ». De l'échelle (micro-)régionale à l'échelle européenne, il s'agira notamment d'interroger le degré de pertinence des groupes culturels aujourd'hui reconnus ou pressentis, mais aussi, plus largement, de poser la question de l'interprétation de ces ensembles archéologiques.
Alcune delle caratteristiche che indussero a considerare tali culture come unitarie, permettono oggi di riconoscere non solo delle variazioni regionali interne, visibili a scale geografiche differenti, ma anche di rilevare l’esistenza di culture miste o particolari, espressioni di una grande varietà culturale.
Tali caratteristiche, o marker culturali, si possono manifestare in diversi modi nelle produzioni materiali, nei modi d’occupazione, nelle pratiche funerarie, o nell’organizzazione territoriale…
Il convegno di Praga ha quindi come obiettivo quello di presentare lo stato attuale delle ricerche basandosi su nuovi approcci di studio delle differenti culture archeologiche dell’età del ferro in Europa centrale e occidentale, in una vasta zona tradizionalmente o in parte definita come “celtica”. L’obiettivo è quello di interrogarsi, dalla scala (micro-)regionale a quella europea, sulla pertinenza o meno dei gruppi culturali come sinora definiti o percepiti e più in generale di valutare le modalità di interpretazione di tali gruppi.
On the contrary, in the same way that we came to consider the unity of these archaeological cultures, some characteristics allow us today to detect internal regional differences at various geographical scales. It also allows us to discern the existence of mixed or original cultures, with many diverse forms. These characteristics, or cultural markers, manifest themselves in different ways through the artefacts, the forms of settlements, burial practices, territorial organisation, etc.
The aim of the Prague AFEAF Conference is to propose a new state of research on our approaches to the different archaeological cultures of the Iron Age in Central and Western Europe, in an area that is sometimes described as ‘Celtic’. From the (micro-)regional to the European scale, it will be necessary to examine the degree of relevance of the cultural groups that are now recognized or perceived, but also, more widely, to raise the question of the interpretation of these archaeological entities.
V této domnělé kulturní jednotě, lze totiž na základě různých kritérií rozlišit varianty na různých geografických úrovních, ale zároveň v ní identifikovat kultury smíšené či zcela osobité. Tato kritéria či kulturní rysy mohou zahrnovat artefakty, sídlištní formy, pohřební praktiky, organisaci osídlení atd.
Pražská konference si klade za cíl představit současný stav bádání o našich přístupech k různorodosti archeologických kultur doby železné ve střední a západní Evropě – v oblasti, která (nebo jejíž část) je někdy označována jako " keltská ". Na všech úrovních, od mikroregionální po celoevropskou, se budeme především tázat po tom, do jaké míry odpovídají dnes uznávané či předpokládané kulturní skupiny minulé skutečnosti ale také po tom, jak tyto archeologické celky nejvhodněji interpretovat.
Kysela, J. – Bursák, D. – Houfková, P. – Šálková, T. 2017: Stebno-Nouze: pozoruhodný laténský depot z Podbořanska. Archeologické rozhledy 69, 74-108.
https://studiahercynia.ff.cuni.cz/en/magazin/2018-2/
I. Peer -reviewed studies
The Sacral Knot and Its Iconographic Use
Monika Matoušková — 9
Late Bronze Age Settlement History of Emporio on Chios Reconsidered
Kristina Jarošová — 32
‘A Marriage of the Aegean and the Orient’. Bronzes of the Siana Group Reconsidered
Miloš Roháček — 52
Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Pottery in the Upper Thracian Plain, Tundzha Valley and the Burgas Lowland, Bulgaria – Diversity, Technology and Distribution
Rositsa Hristova — 83
II. Reports
Kyzyl Gul – e Relicts of an Abandoned Village in Kugitang Piedmont (South Uzbekistan)
Anna Augustinová – Petr Mach – Petra Cejnarová — 121
Kurgans of the Eastern Kugitang Piedmonts. Preliminary Report for Season 2018
Jakub Havlík – Hana Havlíková – Ladislav Stančo — 147
The time has come to gaze upon something far less appealing, but rather unexplored and with remarkable informative potential: the hideous and cheap domestic ware, locally produced by the uncultured tribes of barbaric Europe to gobble up their broths and fermented beverages!
This conference addresses a group of domestic pottery classes characterised by handmade or throwing manufacture, low firing temperatures and a spectrum of decorations including incisions, fingernail impressions and plastic techniques.
Similar pots with recurrent decorations are known in northern Italy, in France and in central Europe and is traditionally linked with the spread of the La Tène culture, until (and beyond!) the so-called 'Romanization' process.