This research project explores the cultural, economic, and environmental interactions between La Tène and non-La Tène (Jastorf/Przeworsk-type) societies in Central Europe during the Middle and Late Pre-Roman Iron Age.
While the La Tène culture is often associated with dynamic migration and rich material traditions linked to the Celtic world, northern communities developed distinct models of economy, mobility, and land use. This project examines the archaeological record to understand how these populations interacted, coexisted, and shaped the Iron Age landscape north of the Carpathians and Sudetes.
By combining traditional archaeological methods with scientific analyses—such as organic residue analysis, archaeobotany, and use-wear studies—we aim to shed light on how people lived, what they ate, and how they organized their settlements and daily life in a changing and interconnected world.
Follow this project for ongoing updates, expert interviews, and accessible articles exploring how Northern European contact zones connected communities through exchange, adaptation, and innovation.
The project is hosted at Charles University in Prague and funded by the
Czech Science Foundation (GAČR, project no. 25-15914I).
It involves close collaboration with partner institutions across Central Europe.
Our team is currently in Athens, taking part in the 32nd Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA). This year’s meeting is held on 26–29 August 2026 and hosted by the Department of History and Archaeology at the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The Athenian sun is… Read more: Our team at EAA 2026 in Athens
The 14th excavation season at the La Tène settlement in Samborowice, Racibórz district, is officially underway. Conducted wth our research partners from the University of Wrocław and the Silesian Museum in Katowice, this year’s fieldwork combines systematic archaeological excavation with extensive sampling for specialist scientific analyses. Samborowice remains one of the most significant sites for… Read more: First Week of Excavations in Samborowice: A Pottery Kiln and Celtic Bronze Finds
In November, the project will be represented at an international symposium in France organised in connection with the recipient of the 2024 Joseph Déchelette Prize. The fourth Déchelette Prize Colloquium, entitled “Tipping Point? Changement et adaptation des sociétés du 1er millénaire BCE”, will take place on 12–13 November 2026 at the Musée d’Archéologie nationale in… Read more: Research on Iron Age change and adaptation to be presented in France
In August, fieldwork will resume at the La Tène settlement in Samborowice, Racibórz district. The new season will include both archaeological excavations and the collection of samples for specialist analyses. Samborowice is one of the key sites for studying Iron Age settlement in Upper Silesia. Previous excavations have revealed the remains of settlement features, including… Read more: Another excavation season at Samborowice!
At the end of August, the results of research on the archaeological site at Brodno in Lower Silesia will be presented during the 32nd Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists in Athens—one of the most important international gatherings for archaeologists working across Europe. The European Association of Archaeologists brings together professionals, researchers, students,… Read more: Research on the Brodno settlement to be presented at EAA 2026 in Athens
