Home Region: Western Europe (Europe)

Atlantic Complex

2200 BCE 1000 BCE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 fr_atlantic_complex / FrAtlBA

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

3200 BCE 2000 BCE Beaker Culture (fr_beaker_eba) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1000 BCE 900 BCE Hallstatt A-B1 (fr_hallstatt_a_b1) [continuity]

General Description

The Early Bronze Age on the Atlantic seaboard of Western Europe lasted from around 1800 to 1300 BCE. ^[1] Several technological and social changes marked this period, taking place in an area expanding over what is now the south of England, west and central France, and Flanders, ^[2] but also Portugal and Spain. ^[3] Metals were used to craft new types of weapons and ornaments, beginning with copper and then bronze axes, used for working wood and individual defence, ^[4] and culminating in more complex forms of weaponry like swords, daggers and halberds. ^[5] However, most of the artefacts characterizing this period were items of personal jewellery such as torcs, anklets, and pins. ^[6] The trade of these materials formed a vast European network of exchange. ^[6]
Population and political organization
Over the course of the Early Bronze Age, several trends originating in the Beaker period were reinforced: political integration was one of them. Two tiers of social hierarchy can be inferred from burial patterns. While most of these differences were tied to individual achievements over one’s lifetime, social status could also be inherited. Indeed, children have been found in elite burials containing prestigious items, contrasting with the much simpler tombs of commoners. ^[6]
The construction of fortified settlements intensified, following a two-tiered settlement hierarchy. Simple hamlets corresponded to one or more extended families. Elsewhere, small fortified towns were built on raised areas of land and surrounded by walls and ditches. ^[7]

[1]: (Peregrine 2001, 412) Peregrine, P. N. 2001. Western European Earlier Bronze Age. In Peregrine, P.N. and M. Ember (eds) Encyclopedia of Prehistory. Volume 4: Europe, pp.412-414. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XHZC4QMJ.

[2]: (Mordant 2013, 573) Mordant, Claude. 2013. The Bronze Age in France. In Fokkens, H. and A. Harding (eds) The Oxford Handbook of the European Bronze Age, pp. 571-593. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/QX9UG55P.

[3]: (Otte 2008, 276) Otte, Marcel. 2008. La protohistoire, 2è édition. Bruxelles: de Boeck. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/2PQEDZ2I.

[4]: (Ghesquière in Macigny et al. 2005, 23) Cyril Marcigny, Cécile Colonna, Emmanuel Ghesquière, Guy Verron (eds) 2005. La Normandie à l’aube de l’Histoire. Les découvertes archéologiques de l’âge du Bronze 2300-800 av. J.C. Somogy, Paris. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/3ZA57Q27

[5]: (Ghesquière in Macigny et al 2005, 23) Marcigny, Cyril, Cécile Colonna, Emmanuel Ghesquière, and Guy Verron. 2005. La Normandie à L’aube de L’histoire : Les Découvertes Archéologiques de L’âge Du Bronze 2300-800 Av. J.-C. Paris: Somogy éd. d’art. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/3ZA57Q27.

[6]: (Peregrine 2001, 413) Peregrine, P. N. 2001. Western European Earlier Bronze Age. In Peregrine, P.N. and M. Ember (eds) Encyclopedia of Prehistory. Volume 4: Europe, pp.412-414. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XHZC4QMJ.

[7]: (Peregrine 2001, 412-413) Peregrine, P. N. 2001. Western European Earlier Bronze Age. In Peregrine, P.N. and M. Ember (eds) Encyclopedia of Prehistory. Volume 4: Europe, pp.412-414. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XHZC4QMJ.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

5 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex) was in:
(2200 BCE 1001 BCE)	Paris Basin

Home NGA: Paris Basin

General Variables

Identity and Location Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	31 U	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Original Name	Atlantic Complex	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Capital	None (Absent Capital)	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Western European Earlier Bronze Age	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Bronze ancien	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Bronze moyen	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Bronze tardif	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Channel North Sea Province	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[2200 BCE ➜ 1000 BCE]
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Supracultural Entity	Bronze Age Europe	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity	Hallstatt A-B1	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Preceding Entity 3200 BCE 2000 BCE	Beaker Culture (fr_beaker_eba) [continuity]
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 1000 BCE 900 BCE	Hallstatt A-B1 (fr_hallstatt_a_b1) [continuity]
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Language Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-European	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Religion Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	[1,000 to 2,000] people	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Polity Population	[1,000 to 2,000] people	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[1 to 2]	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Religious Level	- Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Military Level	- Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Administrative Level	[1 to 2]	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Professions Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Professional Priesthood	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Professional Military Officer	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Bureaucracy Characteristics Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Examination System	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Law Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Judge	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Court	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Irrigation System	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Food Storage Site	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Port	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Canal	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Bridge	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Information / Writing System Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Script	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Nonwritten Record	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Non Phonetic Writing	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Sacred Text	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Practical Literature	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Philosophy	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

History	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Fiction	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Calendar	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Information / Money Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Precious Metal	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Paper Currency	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Foreign Coin	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Article	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

General Postal Service	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Courier	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moat	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Ditch	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Long Wall	absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Iron	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Copper	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Bronze	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Projectiles Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Sling	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Self Bow	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Javelin	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Crossbow	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Sword	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Spear	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Polearm	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Dagger	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Elephant	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Donkey	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Dog	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Camel	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Armor Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Shield	Present	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Helmet	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Chainmail	Absent	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Breastplate	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Naval technology Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Unknown	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present Inferred	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Unknown	2200 BCE 1000 BCE
Loading...

Human Sacrifice Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More