The research project “Between the Celts and the Northern People: Interactions between the Middle and Late La Tène Societies in Central Europe” investigates the cultural and environmental dynamics between La Tène and non-La Tène communities – such as those of the Jastorf and Przeworsk cultural spheres – in Central Europe during the Middle and Late Pre-Roman Iron Age (roughly 4th-1st centuries BCE).
Focusing on regions north of the Carpathians and Sudetes, the project aims to uncover how these groups – differing in material culture, economic organization, and mobility strategies – shaped and shared the same spaces. Were they competing for resources, engaging in exchange, or living side by side under different cultural paradigms? By combining classical archaeological tools with cutting-edge scientific methods, we seek to reconstruct the human experiences behind the archaeological record.
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 museums and heritage institutions in Poland and the Czech Republic, including Wrocław, Opole, Środa Śląska, Katowice, Legnica, Pardubice, and Brno.
Research Questions
How did Celtic (La Tène) and northern (Jastorf/Przeworsk) groups adapt to shared environments?
What archaeological evidence reflects cultural exchange, coexistence, or displacement?
Can we detect distinct economic or mobility patterns linked to different cultural models?
How did material culture, food production, and resource use differ between these populations?
Methods and Approach
The project employs an integrative methodology that bridges traditional archaeology with natural sciences. Our work includes:
Organic residue analysis (ORA) of ceramic vessels to identify food residues, technical usage, and patterns of consumption.
Archaeobotanical and archaeozoological studies to reconstruct agriculture, herd structure, and diet.
Use-wear and microresidue analysis of stone tools to uncover the daily routines of Iron Age life.
Systematic documentation and cataloguing of archaeological sites and finds, including extensive study of unpublished materials stored in regional museums.
By working across institutional and national boundaries, the project brings together scattered evidence to create a more coherent picture of Iron Age dynamics in this part of Europe.
Why It Matter
This research contributes to several key debates in European prehistory:
It sheds light on the nature of cultural interaction and coexistence in frontier zones between the Celtic and northern worlds.
It allows us to observe how different groups managed land, food, and mobility within the same ecological niches.
It examines the emergence of hybrid cultural patterns and the persistence of distinct lifeways.
It provides new data for discussions on identity, exchange, and adaptation in pre-Roman Central Europe.
Importantly, the project also recovers and makes accessible a substantial body of unpublished archaeological material, helping to fill gaps in our understanding of Iron Age settlement in the region
Project Timeline
The project is planned as a three-year research initiative, combining archaeological fieldwork, museum studies, scientific analysis, and international collaboration. Each year has specific objectives and deliverables that build upon the outcomes of the previous phase.
Year 1: Data Collection, Survey, and Documentation (Months 1–12)
Creation of a comprehensive site and find database: The PI will compile, verify, and expand a digital catalogue of pre-Roman Iron Age sites and artefacts in the study region, based on both published and unpublished data.
Archival and museum research: Visits to archaeological collections in Poland and the Czech Republic (e.g. Wrocław, Opole, Środa Śląska, Legnica, Katowice, Pardubice, Brno) to identify, photograph, and document relevant artefacts and ecofacts, many of which remain unpublished or overlooked.
Selection of materials for sampling: Based on site relevance, preservation, and research potential, key collections will be selected for organic residue, archaeobotanical, and archaeozoological analysis.
Establishing collaboration protocols and data-sharing agreements with museums and academic institutions holding key assemblages.
Preparation of field and lab work procedures, including methodological standardisation for cataloguing ceramics, tools, faunal remains, and soil samples.
Year 2: Scientific Sampling and Analyses (Months 13–24)
Organic Residue Analysis (ORA): Lipid extractions and residue studies will be carried out on selected ceramic fragments (e.g. graphite-tempered vessels, strainers) to determine the content, use, and possible technological or ritual functions.
Archaeobotanical studies: Analysis of macroremains (seeds, charcoal, chaff) and microremains (pollen, phytoliths) in soil samples and daub to reconstruct local flora and agricultural practices.
Archaeozoological investigations: Examination of faunal assemblages (particularly from sites like Bytomin/Bytnik) to assess animal exploitation strategies, herd composition, and butchering practices.
Use-wear and residue analysis of stone tools: Querns, grinders, and handstones from both La Tène and non-La Tène sites will be analysed to determine their actual function (e.g. plant processing vs. technical use) and possible cross-cultural parallels.
Data processing and preliminary interpretation: Results from various specialists will be compiled and cross-referenced with archaeological and environmental data.
Interim research presentations: Results will be shared at selected academic conferences in Poland, the Czech Republic, and internationally, allowing for peer feedback and collaboration opportunities.
Year 3: Integration, Interpretation, Dissemination (Months 25–36)
Synthesis of all research strands: Integrating archaeological, archaeobotanical, archaeozoological, and chemical analyses to reconstruct lifeways, cultural contacts, and environmental adaptations across the studied region.
Comparative evaluation of cultural models: Identification of contrasting or shared patterns in economy, settlement, and mobility strategies between La Tène and northern groups.
Preparation of scholarly publications: Articles will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals covering archaeology, bioarchaeology, and interdisciplinary Iron Age studies. A synthetic final report will also be produced.
Website development and content publication: Launch of a multilingual, publicly accessible project website featuring research results, team information, visual documentation, and a searchable database of sites and finds.
Public engagement and outreach: Participation in public lectures, archaeological open days, and outreach events in partner institutions; promotion of results via social media and digital tools.
Conference session organisation: The project will culminate in a workshop or dedicated session at a major European archaeology conference, fostering dialogue on frontier zones and cross-cultural interactions in Iron Age Europe.
