Available sources

Many different levels of social complexity have been proposed for the late Hallstatt and early La Tène societies north of the alps. While most models place them at the level of chiefdom societies, or even early states (eg ARNOLD 1995; FISCHER 1995; FRANKENSTEIN AND ROWLANDS 1978; KRAUßE 1999; KRISTIANSEN 1998, to name but a few), some argue for little more than tribal societies (BURMEISTER 2000; EGGERT 2001, 329-38). While all these models have looked in some detail at the archaeological record, and, to a greater or lesser extent, made use of historical sources, general social evolutionary theory and ethnographic analogies, not a single one has as of yet considered the linguistic record. Although only directly attested some centuries after the Late Hallstatt period, there seems to be general agreement that late Hallstatt societies – at least mostly – did speak Celtic languages. The early medieval Celtic languages, however, have preserved cognate terms for a number of near-identical, complex social practices which – if the linguists are correct – must go back to common Celtic, and thus date to or even predate the late Hallstatt period. Amongst them are practices associated with neighbourhood relations, hospitality, fosterage, and contracts (KARL 2004a). An examination of these complex practices and the associated terminology found in the linguistic record will allow to assess, more precisely than before, what levels of complexity we have to expect in Late Hallstatt and Early La Tène societies north of the alps.