Fingerprinting the Iron Age : approaches to identity in the European Iron Age : integrating South-Eastern Europe into the debate

Archaeology has long dealt with issues of identity, and especially with ethnicity, with modern approaches emphasising dynamic and fluid social construction. The archaeology of the Iron Age in particular has engendered much debate on the topic of ethnicity, fuelled by the first availability of written sources alongside the archaeological evidence which has led many researchers to associate the features they excavate with populations named by Greek or Latin writers. Some archaeological traditions have had their entire structure built around notions of ethnicity, around the relationships existing between large groups of people conceived together as forming unitary ethnic units. On the other hand, partly influenced by anthropological studies, other scholars have written forcefully against Iron Age ethnic constructions, such as the Celts. The 24 contributions to this volume focus on the south east Europe, where the Iron Age has, until recently, been populated with numerous ethnic groups with which specific material culture forms have been associated. The first section is devoted to the core geographical area of south east Europe: Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia, as well as Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The following three sections allow comparison with regions further to the west and the south west with contributions on central and western Europe, the British Isles and the Italian peninsula. The volume concludes with four papers which provide more synthetic statements that cut across geographical boundaries, the final contributions bringing together some of the key themes of the volume. The wide array of approaches to identity presented here reflects the continuing debate on how to integrate material culture, protohistoric evidence (largely classical authors looking in on first millennium BC societies) and the impact of recent nationalistic agendas. Archaeology has long dealt with issues of identity, and especially with ethnicity, with modern approaches emphasizing dynamic and fluid social construction. The archaeology of the Iron Age in particular has engendered much debate on the topic of ethnicity, fuelled by the first availability of written sources alongside the archaeological evidence which has led many researchers to associate the features they excavate with populations named by Greek or Latin writers. Some archaeological traditions have had their entire structure built around notions of ethnicity, around the relationships existing between large groups of people conceived together as forming unitary ethnic units. On the other hand, partly influenced by anthropological studies, other scholars have written forcefully against Iron Age ethnic constructions, such as the Celts. The 24 contributions to this volume focus on south east Europe, where the Iron Age has, until recently, been populated with numerous ethnic groups with which specific material culture forms have been associated. The first section is devoted to the core geographical area of south east Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia, as well as Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The following three sections allow comparison with regions further to the west and the south west with contributions on central and western Europe, the British Isles and the Italian peninsula. The volume concludes with four papers which provide more synthetic statements that cut across geographical boundaries, the final contributions bringing together some of the key themes of the volume. The wide array of approaches to identity presented here reflects the continuing debate on how to integrate material culture, protohistoric evidence (largely classical authors looking in on first millennium BC societies) and the impact of recent nationalistic agendas. Table of Contents 1. Tribute to John Alexander Simon Stoddart 2. the challenge of Iron Age identity Simon Stoddart and Ctlin Nicolae Popa PERSPECTIVES FROM SOUTH EAST EUROPE 3. The Coexistence and Interference of the Late Iron Age Transylvanian Communities Sndor Berecki 4. Identities of the Early Iron Age in North-eastern Slovenia Matija renar and Dimitrij Mleku 5. Royal Bodies, Invisible gender in the funerary record of Late Iron Age and Early Hellenistic Thrace Bela Dimova 6. Mediterranean Wine and Dacian Conviviality. Ancient and Modern Myths and Archaeological Evidence Mariana Egri 7. Sarmizegetusa Regia - the Identity of a Royal Site? Gelu Florea 8. The Ethnic Construction of Early Iron Age Burials in Transylvania. Scythians, Agathyrsi or Thracians? Alexandra Ghenghea 9. Negotiating Identities at the edge of the Roman Empire Marko Jankovi 10. Tracing Ethnicity the case of the Central Balkan Tribes Vladimir Mihajlovi 11. The Quest for Group Identity in Late Iron Age Romania. Statistical Reconstruction of Groups based on Funerary Evidence Ctlin Nicolae Popa 12. Changing Identities of the Iron Age Communities of Southern Pannonia Hrvoje Potrebica and Marko Dizdar 13 Indigenous and Colonist Communities in the Eastern Carpathian Basin at the Beginning of the Late Iron Age. The Genesis of an Eastern Celtic World Aurel Rustoiu 14. Ancient Thrace between the East and the West Nikola Theodossiev 15. Hellenization and Ethnicity in the Continental Balkan Iron Age Ivan Vrani PERSPECTIVES FROM THE WEST 16. Central Places and the Construction of Collective Identities in the Middle Rhine-Moselle Region Manuel Fernndez-Gtz 17. Fingerprinting Iron Age Communities in South-West Germany and an Integrative Theory of Culture Oliver Nakoinz 18. Iron Age Identities in Central some initial approaches Peter Ramsl PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FAR WEST 19. Negotiating Identity on the Edge of Empire Louisa Campbell 20. Personal Adornment in Iron Age Britain. The Case of the Missing Glass Beads Elizabeth Schech PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SOUTH WEST 21. Spoiling for a using spear typologies to identify aspects of warrior identity and fighting style in Iron Age South Italy Yvonne Inall 22. Communal vs. the role of identity in the burials of Peucetia Olivia Kelley 23. A View from the South (West). Identity in Tyrrhenian Central Italy Simon Stoddart SYNTHESIS 24. Identity, Integration, Power Relations and the Study of the European Iron implications from Serbia Staa Babi 25. The more myths and inventions. John Collis 26 Material Culture and Identity. The Problem of Identifying Celts, Germans and Romans in Late Iron Age Europe Peter Wells. 27. Fingerprinting the European Iron Age. Historical, Cultural and Intellectual Perspectives on Identity and Ethnicity Ctlin Nicolae Popa and Simon Stoddart. Introduction: The Challenge Of Iron Age Identity / Simon Stoddart And Catalin Nicolae Popa -- Part I. Perspectives From South East Europe -- The Coexistence And Interference Of The Late Iron Age Transylvanian Communities / Sándor Berecki -- Identities Of The Early Iron Age In North-eastern Slovenia / Matija Crenar And Dimitrijmleku -- Royal Bodies, Invisible Victims: Gender In The Funerary Record Of Late Iron Age And Early Hellenistic Thrace / Bela Dimova -- Mediterranean Wine And Dacian Conviviality: Ancient And Modern Myths And Archaeological Evidence / Mariana Egri -- Sarmizegetusa Regia: The Identity Of A Royal Site? / Gelu Florea -- The Ethnic Construction Of Early Iron Age Burials In Transylvania: Scythians, Agathyrsi Or Thracians? / Alexandra Ghenghea -- Negotiating Identities At The Edge Of The Roman Empire / Marko A. Jankovic -- Tracing Ethnicity Backwards: The Case Of The Central Balkan Tribes / Vladimir D. Mihajlovic --^ The Quest For Group Identity In Late Iron Age Romania: Statistical Reconstruction Of Groups Based On Funerary Evidence / Catalin Nicolae Popa -- Changing Identities Of The Iron Age Communities Of Southern Pannonia / Yvonne Inall, Hrvoje Potrebica And Marko Dizdar -- Indigenous And Colonist Communities In The Eastern Carpathianbasin At The Beginning Of The Late Iron Age: The Genesis Of An Eastern Celtic World / Aurel Rustoiu -- Ancient Thrace Between The East And The West / Nikola Theodossiev -- Hellenisation And Ethnicity In The Continental Balkan Iron Age / Ivan Vranic -- Part Ii. Perspectives From The West -- Central Places And The Construction Of Collective Identities In The Middle Rhine-moselle Region / Manuel Fernández-götz -- Fingerprinting Iron Age Communities In South-west Germany And An Integrative Theory Of Culture / Oliver Nakoinz -- Iron Age Identities In Central Europe: Some Initial Approaches / Peter C. Ramsl -- Part Iii. Perspectives From The Far West --^ Negotiating Identity On The Edge Of Empire / Louisa Campbell -- Personal Adornment In Iron Age Britain: The Case Of The Missing Glass Beads / Elizabeth Foulds -- Part Iv. Perspectives From The South West -- Spoiling For A Fight: Using Spear Typologies To Identify Aspects Of Warrior Identity And Fighting Style In Iron Age South Italy -- Communal Vs. Individual: The Role Of Identity In The Burials Of Peucetia / Olivia Kelley -- A View From The South (west): Identity In Tyrrhenian Central Italy / Simon Stoddart -- Part V. Synthesis -- Identity, Integration, Power Relations And The Study Of The European Iron Age: Implications From Serbia / Staa Babic -- The Celts: More Myths And Inventions / John Collis -- Material Culture And Identity: The Problem Of Identifying Celts, Germans And Romans In Late Iron Age Europe / Peter Wells -- Fingerprinting The European Iron Age: Historical, Cultural Andintellectual Perspectives On Identity And Ethnicity / Catalin Nicolae Popa And Simon Stoddart. Catalin Nicolae Popa And Simon Stoddart. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Archaeology Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright Page 3 Contents 4 Preface 7 Contributors 8 Chapter 1: Tribute to John Alexander 14 Chapter 2: Introduction: the Challenge of Iron Age Identity 16 Perspectives from South East Europe 22 Chapter 3: The Coexistence and Interference of the Late Iron Age Transylvanian Communities 24 Chapter 4: Identities of the Early Iron Age in North Eastern Slovenia 31 Chapter 5: Royal Bodies, Invisible Victims: Gender in the Funerary Record of Late Iron Age and Early Hellenistic Thrace 46 Chapter 6: Mediterranean Wine and Dacian Conviviality. Ancient and Modern Myths and Archaeological Evidence 61 Chapter7: Sarmizegetusa Regia – the Identity of a Royal Site? 76 Chapter 8: The Ethnic Construction of Early Iron Age Burials in Transylvania. Scythians, Agathyrsi or Thracians? 89 Chapter 9: Negotiating Identities at the Edge of the Roman Empire 102 Chapter 10: Tracing Ethnicity Backwards: the Case of the ‘Central Balkan Tribes’ 110 Chapter 11: The Quest for Group Identity in Late Iron Age Romania. Statistical Reconstruction of Groups based on Funerary Evidence 121 Chapter 12: Changing Identities of the Iron Age Communities of Southern Pannonia 136 Chapter 13: Indigenous and Colonist Communities in the Eastern Carpathian Basin at the Beginning of the Late Iron Age. The Genesis of an Eastern Celtic World 155 Chapter 14: Ancient Thrace Between the East and the West 170 Chapter 15: ‘Hellenisation’ and Ethnicity in the Continental Balkan Iron Age 174 Perspectives from the West 186 Chapter 16: Central Places and the Construction of Collective Identities in the Middle Rhine-Moselle Region 188 Chapter 17: Fingerprinting Iron Age Communities in South-West Germany and an Integrative Theory of Culture 200 Chapter 18: Iron Age Identities in Central Europe: Some Initial Approaches 213 Perspectives from the Far West 222 Chapter 19: Negotiating Identity on the Edge of Empire 224 Chapter 20: Personal Adornment in Iron Age Britain. The Case of the Missing Glass Beads 236 Perspectives from the South West 252 Chapter 21: Spoiling for a Fight: Using Spear Typologies to Identify Aspects of Warrior Identity and Fighting Style in Iron Age South Italy 254 Chapter 22: Communal vs. Individual: the Role of Identity in the Burials of Peucetia 267 Chapter 23: A View from the South (West). Identity in Tyrrhenian Central Italy 279 Synthesis 294 Chapter 24: Identity, Integration, Power Relations and the Study of the European Iron Age: Implications from Serbia 296 Chapter 25: The Celts: More Myths and Inventions 304 Chapter 26: Material Culture and Identity. The Problem of Identifying Celts, Germans and Romans in Late Iron Age Europe 319 Chapter 27: Fingerprinting the European Iron Age. Historical, Cultural and Intellectual Perspectives on Identity and Ethnicity 336 Bibliography 345 Index 428