The European Iron Age with - and without - Celts: A Bibliographical Essay

Atlantic Europe in the First Millennium BC

“…Maier 2003). Others avow a Celtic 24 model that seems little changed from Powell's (1958) vision and have seen little merit in this dialogue (Megaw 2005). It is notable that it is those scholars which focus on ritual and religion (e.g.…”

“…Thus whilst the nomenclature is increasingly recognised as problematic, the over-arching models of Iron Age societies inherited from a Celtic approach (see Hill this volume) remain persistent.Why then in this volume is the issue of the Celts hardly touched upon? To some extent this reflects a move away from this issue as a focus of debate, particularly in Britain where the argument has perhaps largely been won (although seeMegaw 2005). It also suggests the issue is no longer regarded as fundamental to regional narratives with alternative debates of greater concern to younger scholars (seeDavis, Sharples and Waddington 2008).One of the dangers of the Celtic debate is perhaps its increasing intransigence (seeCollis 2003;Megaw 2005; papers in Anthoons and Clerinx 2007) which has come to overshadow discussions concerning European approaches to the first millennium BC.…”

“…To some extent this reflects a move away from this issue as a focus of debate, particularly in Britain where the argument has perhaps largely been won (although seeMegaw 2005). It also suggests the issue is no longer regarded as fundamental to regional narratives with alternative debates of greater concern to younger scholars (seeDavis, Sharples and Waddington 2008).One of the dangers of the Celtic debate is perhaps its increasing intransigence (seeCollis 2003;Megaw 2005; papers in Anthoons and Clerinx 2007) which has come to overshadow discussions concerning European approaches to the first millennium BC. Whilst a vital concern, there is a danger that, rather than enhancing pan-European dialogue, it has begun to stifle debate.…”