In the Eastern Hallstatt zone, different chiefdoms already had contacts with Celtic societies since 6th century BC. It is not exactly known how the transition from Hallstatt to La Tene communities transpired. It probably depended on region and the customs of migrating Celtic tribes, but it could range from diplomacy, peaceful assimilation to armed conflict. Many Hallstatt centers show signs of crisis and abandonment during the time of transition. Whether Celts were the sole reason for it, remains unknown.

The transition between eras are some of the most interesting events across history and are plagued with many unanswered questions. The same is true at the passage between Early and Late Iron age. How did the old Hallstatt communities become “Celtic”?
Did the old, native societies completely collapse, were they militarily subjugated, or were diplomacy and assimilation the main components? To what degree did the ethnicity of communities change?

Unlike the preceding Hallstatt chiefdoms that built their centers of power on hills, the Celts preferred to settle on flat plains and valleys - a ground more suitable for farming. But while some Hallstatt hillforts were abandoned, life in many of them continued. Celts often didn’t migrate in numbers needed to completely overthrow all previous inhabitants of a region. Instead, smaller groups and individuals like mercenaries, traveling artisans, merchants and brides married off to other communities, all did their part in the spread of La Tene culture, sometimes even without settling a region on a large scale.

Their buildings and furnishing remained similar, while incorporating some new Celtic technological and cultural novelties, like potter wheel. The Celts also improved metallurgy, iron production and agriculture.
Some of the bigger changes were the burial methods of flat cemeteries with cremation graves, religious worship, and jewelry. Celts also produced coins inspired by Mediterranean civilizations, which replaced ancient treasure hoards of semi-finished objects.


Sources: docs.google.com/document/d/1mnK9tpEvz9UgeVWuUh8fPF…

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Learn more about the history in the heart of Europe:    • History in the heart of Europe  

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