The Hallstatt culture, named after an archaeological site in Austria and traditionally divided into four phases, was the main cultural complex in Western Europe during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. It coincides with the North Alpine complex, extending over modern-day central and southern Germany, northern Italy, and Switzerland.
[1]
Population and political organization
Across Europe, thousands of small-scale polities coexisted in the Hallstatt A period (c. 1100-1000 BCE);
[2]
the average independent political unit controlled a zone with a radius of 20 kilometres.
[3]
Most settlements identified archaeologically consisted of dispersed farms gravitating around a significant monument, a village or a fortification.
[4]
At this time, elites had control over long-distance exchange networks, which encouraged the production of bronze objects such as helmets.
[5]
These elites also distinguished themselves in death, as they were buried in elaborate complexes of tumuli, which could include protective walls, stone markers and even four-wheeled wagons.
[6]
[1]: (Brun 1995, 14) Brun, Patrice. 1995. “From Chiefdom to State Organization in Celtic Europe.” In Celtic Chiefdom, Celtic State: The Evolution of Complex Social Systems in Prehistoric Europe, edited by Bettina Arnold and D. Blair Gibson, Cambridge University Press, 13-25. Cambridge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/RZWRCEPH.
[2]: (CNRS-ENS 2017) CNRS-ENS. 2017. “Atlas de L’âge Du Fer.” Accessed July 7. http://www.chronocarto.ens.fr/gcserver/patlas. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/HUKZMF9J.
[3]: (Brun 2007, 381) Brun, Patrice. 2007. “Une Période de Transition Majeure En Europe: De La Fin Du IVe Au Début Du IIe s. Av. J.-C.(La Tène B2 et C).” In La Gaule Dans Son Contexte Européen Aux IV e et III e Siècle Avant Notre Ère, edited by Christine Mennessier-Jouannet, Anne-Marie Adam, and Pierre-Yves Milcent, 377-84. Lattes: Edition de l’Association pour le Développement de l’Archéologie en Languedoc-Roussillon. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/D2ET47FZ.
[4]: (Brun 1995, 15) Brun, Patrice. 1995. “From Chiefdom to State Organization in Celtic Europe.” In Celtic Chiefdom, Celtic State: The Evolution of Complex Social Systems in Prehistoric Europe, edited by Bettina Arnold and D. Blair Gibson, Cambridge University Press, 13-25. Cambridge. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/RZWRCEPH.
[5]: (Allen 2007, 119) Allen, Stephen. 2007. Lords of Battle: The World of the Celtic Warrior. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/F9D9PI8A.
[6]: Pare, Christopher FE. 1992. Wagons and Wagon-Graves of the Early Iron Age in Central Europe. Vol. 35. Oxford: Oxford University School of Archaeology. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XPKX7SNP.
| 31 U |
| Hallstatt A-B1 |
| Unknown |
| European Bronze Age | |
| Late European Bronze Age | |
| Atlantic Complex | |
| Hallstatt culture | |
| Hallstatt | |
| North-Alpine Complex | |
| Urnfield culture |
| none |
| Hallstatt |
| Hallstatt B |
| continuity |
| Succeeding: Hallstatt B2-3 (fr_hallstatt_b2_3) [continuity] | |
| Preceding: Atlantic Complex (fr_atlantic_complex) [continuity] |
| loose |
| 100 people |
| [750 to 1,250] km2 |
| [100 to 1,000] people |
| inferred absent |
| inferred absent |
| inferred absent |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| inferred absent |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| present | |
| absent |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| inferred present |
| inferred present |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| inferred present |
| absent |
| unknown |
| absent |
| unknown |
| unknown |
| inferred absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| unknown |
| inferred present |
| inferred present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| inferred absent |
| absent |
| inferred present |
| present |
| inferred present |
| inferred present |
| present |
| inferred present |
| unknown |
| inferred absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| inferred present |
| unknown |
| absent |
| inferred present |
| absent |
| absent |
| Year Range | Hallstatt A-B1 (fr_hallstatt_a_b1) was in: |
|---|---|
| (1000 BCE 901 BCE) | Paris Basin |
The Paris Basin region straddles the "North-Alpine Complex" and the "Atlantic Complex" culture. [1] This time period straddles end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in Europe.
[1]: (Brun 1995, 14)
The Paris Basin region straddles the "North-Alpine Complex" and the "Atlantic Complex" culture. [1] This time period straddles end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in Europe.
[1]: (Brun 1995, 14)
The Paris Basin region straddles the "North-Alpine Complex" and the "Atlantic Complex" culture. [1] This time period straddles end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in Europe.
[1]: (Brun 1995, 14)
The Paris Basin region straddles the "North-Alpine Complex" and the "Atlantic Complex" culture. [1] This time period straddles end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in Europe.
[1]: (Brun 1995, 14)
The Paris Basin region straddles the "North-Alpine Complex" and the "Atlantic Complex" culture. [1] This time period straddles end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age in Europe.
[1]: (Brun 1995, 14)
2500-800 BCE (European Bronze Age)
"centralization of power but only at a restricted scale and in three forms (Brun and Pion 1992): 1. A cluster of dispersed farms gravitate around a monument, a sort of tomb-sanctuary, which symbolizes the unity of the territorial community. This community is ruled by a chief who occupies one of the farms. 2. A cluster of farmsteads polarized by a village, near which is found the territorial sanctuary. ... 3. Identical in organization to #2, but the central role of the village is held by a fortification. It appears that this type of settlement owes its existence to the control it exerted over long-distance exchange, especially over exchange in metal."
[1]
[1]: (Brun 1995, 15)
in squared kilometers
Around 1000-900 BCE, politically independent polities in the northern alpine region (which includes central France
[1]
) had a radius of about 20 km, which gives an area of about 1,257 sq kilometers.
[2]
[2]
2500-800 BCE (European Bronze Age) - this is earlier research from the same author. Since it is earlier research and the same author I defer to the more recent research. However, the upper limit is similar.
"Each politically autonomous territory measured from 7 to 15 km in diameter during the whole period, except during periods of temporary expansion."
[3]
"The Wessex communities seem to have succeeded in organizing polities 1000 km2 in extent" however "Evidence of similar polities is very rare in Europe during the same period."
[4]
[1]: (Brun 2007, 380)
[2]: (Brun 2007, 381)
[3]: (Brun 1995, 15)
[4]: (Brun 1995, 14)
People. There is a mismatch between polity territory and polity population. Very rough estimate assuming small communities of ~10 100-or-so person villages
2500-800 BCE (European Bronze Age)
"Each autonomous political community consisted of around a hundred people on average, distributed in five to eight small settlements."
[1]
[1]: (Brun 1995, 14)
levels.
1. Village
2. Farmstead
2500-800 BCE (European Bronze Age)
"centralization of power but only at a restricted scale and in three forms (Brun and Pion 1992): 1. A cluster of dispersed farms gravitate around a monument, a sort of tomb-sanctuary, which symbolizes the unity of the territorial community. This community is ruled by a chief who occupies one of the farms. 2. A cluster of farmsteads polarized by a village, near which is found the territorial sanctuary. ... 3. Identical in organization to #2, but the central role of the village is held by a fortification. It appears that this type of settlement owes its existence to the control it exerted over long-distance exchange, especially over exchange in metal."
[1]
[1]: (Brun 1995, 15)
levels.
1. Chief
2. Headman
2500-800 BCE (European Bronze Age)
"centralization of power but only at a restricted scale and in three forms (Brun and Pion 1992): 1. A cluster of dispersed farms gravitate around a monument, a sort of tomb-sanctuary, which symbolizes the unity of the territorial community. This community is ruled by a chief who occupies one of the farms. 2. A cluster of farmsteads polarized by a village, near which is found the territorial sanctuary. ... 3. Identical in organization to #2, but the central role of the village is held by a fortification. It appears that this type of settlement owes its existence to the control it exerted over long-distance exchange, especially over exchange in metal."
[1]
. "The production of bronze objects has suggested to many scholars that, just as trade became more complex, sociopolitical organization may have become more complex as well. This idea seems to be reinforced by the presence of fortified towns, suggesting some degree of political integration, at least at a local level. Unfortunately, there is little formal data on sociopolitical organization for the Earlier Bronze Age. Scholars analyzing the contents of burials have suggested a two-tiered division was present in Earlier Bronze Age society, with one tier being "elites" buried with considerable wealth, the other being commoners buried with very few goods. Most scholars believe that such differences were probably achieved during the life of the individual, particularly since many of the "elite" burials contain goods associated with warriors. However, both women and men, and even some children, were buried in the "elite" style, suggesting that ascribed status differences may have been present."
[2]
[1]: (Brun 1995, 15)
[2]: (Peregrine 2001, 413)
previous code: inferred present | primitive irrigation system known from Beaker culture. "Silo" present during this time period.
[1]
Does this refer to food storage? Surplus production might also indicate irrigation systems. DH: is there evidence or reason to believe Beaker irrigation, if existed, remained?
"Silo" present during this time period. [1] Does this refer to food storage?
Possibly present for Atlantic Complex.
Possibly present for Atlantic Complex.
Interpolating between the previous and succeeding periods
Not mentioned in the literature.
Not mentioned in the literature.
Inferred from the presence of complex fortifications in previous and subsequent polities in the Paris Basin.
"The story of the Bronze Age is also to some extent the story of the inven- tions that occurred during it. High up on the list of these come the series of new weapons created during the period. The bow and arrow had existed since at least the Mesolithic, the dagger since the Neolithic." [1]
[1]: (Harding 2000, 275)
"Spears were used from the Palaeolithic period for hunting, both handheld and as projectiles, and also served as weapons in early times, though it was not until the Middle Bronze Age when socketed metal spearheads began to be developed that spear superseded arrows as the preferred projectile. Their frequency in Bronze and Iron Age burials shows that they were used by all warriors and par- ticularly by fighters who did not own a sword." [1]
[1]: (McIntosh 2006, 298)
Not mentioned in the literature.
Inferred from previous and succeeding (quasi)polities.
Sword found in Loire Valley dates to 1000-820 BCE time period. [1] "Bronze age swords found by Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, estimated to be 3,000 year old." [2]
[1]: (http://www.chronocarto.ens.fr/gcserver/atlas#)
[2]: (https://twitter.com/europeshistory/status/630725341313548288)
Spears were used from the Palaeolithic period for hunting, both handheld and as projectiles, and also served as weapons in early times, though it was not until the Middle Bronze Age when socketed metal spearheads began to be developed that spear superseded arrows as the preferred projectile. Their frequency in Bronze and Iron Age burials shows that they were used by all warriors and par- ticularly by fighters who did not own a sword." [1]
[1]: (McIntosh 2006, 298)
"a very fine decorated one-edged knife of advanced Hallstatt A type ... also a dagger with notched hilt" [1]
[1]: (Sandars 1957, 90) N K Sandars. 2014 (1957). Bronze Age Cultures in France. The Later Phases From The Thirteenth To The Seventh Century B.C. Cambridge At The University Press. Cambridge.
No finds within France until 620-560 BCE. ("Umbo" = shield boss?) [1]
Present in previous and subsequent periods.
Helmet found in Loire Valley dates to 1000-820 BCE time period. [1]
Iron chain mail was introduced in the third century BCE, probably by the Celtic peoples. [1] The French Chronocarto database mentions "Chaîne de suspension" for the later Hallstatt periods. Either way, the technology was not present at this time.
[1]: (Gabriel 2002, 21) Richard A Gabriel. 2002. The Great Armies of Antiquity. Praeger. Westport.
Not mentioned in the literature.
"Similarities between the logboats and plank boats of the period 600 BC to AD 600 and those of earlier times suggest that the roots of Celtic boatbuilding lie in the second millennium BC or earlier." [1] However there is no geographical resolution, even if the term ’Celtic’ implies La Tène and Hallstatt.
[1]: (Green 1995, 271)
Not mentioned in the literature.