Migration and elite networks as modes of cultural exchange in Iron Age Europe : a case study of contacts between the continent and the Arras culture

The chariot burials of the Arras Culture reveal a strong link with the Continent, but what precisely is the nature of this connection? Were the chariot burials and other continental features introduced by immigrants from northern Gaul? If so, then why is the local British component so strong and why have features been adopted from different regions in northern Gaul, so that it is impossible to identify the immigrants' homeland? Migration was not the only type of mobility in Iron Age Europe; certain individuals travelled long distances and not necessarily for economic reasons. Social networks, and more specifically elite networks, were created through mechanisms like strategic marriages, clientship, hostageship and perhaps fosterage. When comparing the archaeological data from East Yorkshire with the evidence from various regions in northern Gaul, it becomes clear that these networks offer a more satisfactory explanation. Moreover, the introduction of chariot burials in East Yorkshire, in the early third century BC, coincides with the appearance of the same phenomenon in several regions in northern Gaul (for example in the Paris area). In the Aisne-Marne region, renowned for its rich chariot burials of the fifth and early fourth century BC, the tradition was long waning by this time. In the early third century BC, internationalisation is the keyword: ideas and technologies disseminate rapidly over very long distances; social networks become more complex and the world has become a smaller place. However, the exchanges between East Yorkshire and the Continent primarily took place in the field of ritual, and much less in other aspects of life, like weaponry or art styles. This raises the question to what extent druids and other learned men, and their networks, had a part in the introduction of new funerary practices in East Yorkshire.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Les gestes funéraires et l’échange culturel entre la Gaule du Nord et la Culture d’Arras du Yorkshire de l’Est

International audienceTypical for the Arras Culture of East Yorkshire is the presence of inhumation burials – some of them with a chariot – and square barrows. Have these prestigious funerary rites been brought in from the Continent by a small elite group or are they the result of cultural exchange with Northern Gaul through social networks? The comparative study shows that not a single region in Northern Gaul qualifies as the possible homeland of the Arras Culture, which rather resembles a kaleidoscope of elements of divergent origins, while it is also deeply rooted in indigenous British traditions. As a matter of fact, the appearance of chariot burials in East Yorkshire coincides with the spread of this phenomenon across several areas of Northern Gaul around 300 BC. At this date, international contacts seem to intensify, inducing a rapid diffusion of new technologies, art styles and ideologies. As the connection between the Arras Culture and Northern Gaul is most apparent in the field of ritual, the possible role of the druids needs to be examined.La Culture d’Arras du Yorkshire de l’Est se distingue par la présence de tombes à inhumation - dont certaines à char - et par ses tertres carrés. Ces rites funéraires prestigieux, ont-ils été amenés par un petit groupe élitaire du Continent ou s’agit-il d’un échange culturel avec la Gaule du Nord, grâce à des réseaux sociaux ? L’étude comparative montre qu’il n’existe en Gaule du Nord aucune région qui pourrait fonctionner en tant que pays d’origine de la Culture d’Arras, laquelle ressemble plutôt à un kaléidoscope d’éléments de provenances divergentes, tout en étant fortement ancrée dans les traditions indigènes britanniques. En fait, l’apparition de tombes à char dans le Yorkshire de l’Est coïncide avec la propagation de ce même phénomène dans plusieurs régions de la Gaule du Nord vers 300 av. J.-C. A cette époque, les contacts internationaux semblent s’intensifier, induisant une diffusion rapide de nouvelles technologies, styles artistiques et idéologies. Les rapports entre la Culture d’Arras et la Gaule du Nord se situant principalement dans le domaine rituel, on doit s’interroger sur le rôle éventuel des druides

Les gestes funéraires et l’échange culturel entre la Gaule du Nord et la Culture d’Arras du Yorkshire de l’Est

La Culture d’Arras du Yorkshire de l’Est se distingue par la présence de tombes à inhumation - dont certaines à char - et par ses tertres carrés. Ces rites funéraires prestigieux, ont-ils été amenés par un petit groupe élitaire du Continent ou s’agit-il d’un échange culturel avec la Gaule du Nord, grâce à des réseaux sociaux ? L’étude comparative montre qu’il n’existe en Gaule du Nord aucune région qui pourrait fonctionner en tant que pays d’origine de la Culture d’Arras, laquelle ressemble plutôt à un kaléidoscope d’éléments de provenances divergentes, tout en étant fortement ancrée dans les traditions indigènes britanniques. En fait, l’apparition de tombes à char dans le Yorkshire de l’Est coïncide avec la propagation de ce même phénomène dans plusieurs régions de la Gaule du Nord vers 300 av. J.-C. A cette époque, les contacts internationaux semblent s’intensifier, induisant une diffusion rapide de nouvelles technologies, styles artistiques et idéologies. Les rapports entre la Culture d’Arras et la Gaule du Nord se situant principalement dans le domaine rituel, on doit s’interroger sur le rôle éventuel des druides.Typical for the Arras Culture of East Yorkshire is the presence of inhumation burials – some of them with a chariot – and square barrows. Have these prestigious funerary rites been brought in from the Continent by a small elite group or are they the result of cultural exchange with Northern Gaul through social networks? The comparative study shows that not a single region in Northern Gaul qualifies as the possible homeland of the Arras Culture, which rather resembles a kaleidoscope of elements of divergent origins, while it is also deeply rooted in indigenous British traditions. As a matter of fact, the appearance of chariot burials in East Yorkshire coincides with the spread of this phenomenon across several areas of Northern Gaul around 300 B.C. At this date, international contacts seem to intensify, inducing a rapid diffusion of new technologies, art styles and ideologies. As the connection between the Arras Culture and Northern Gaul is most apparent in the field of ritual, the possible role of the druids needs to be examined

Gérard CAPDEVILLE (Éd.), L'eau et le feu dans les religions antiques.

Anthoons Greta. Gérard CAPDEVILLE (Éd.), L'eau et le feu dans les religions antiques. . In: L'antiquité classique, Tome 75, 2006. pp. 432-434

Jean-Louis BRUNAUX, Guerre et religion en Gaule. Essai d'anthropologie celtique.

Anthoons Greta. Jean-Louis BRUNAUX, Guerre et religion en Gaule. Essai d'anthropologie celtique.. In: L'antiquité classique, Tome 75, 2006. pp. 457-458

Karin H. Nlklasson (Ed.), Cypriot Archaeology in Göteborg. Papers presented at a Symposium on Cypriot Archaeology held in Göteborg 20 May 1998

Anthoons Greta. Karin H. Nlklasson (Ed.), Cypriot Archaeology in Göteborg. Papers presented at a Symposium on Cypriot Archaeology held in Göteborg 20 May 1998. In: L'antiquité classique, Tome 70, 2001. pp. 510-511

Gérard CAPDEVILLE (Éd.), L'eau et le feu dans les religions antiques.

Anthoons Greta. Gérard CAPDEVILLE (Éd.), L'eau et le feu dans les religions antiques. . In: L'antiquité classique, Tome 75, 2006. pp. 432-434

La mobilité des druides et la diffusion de gestes funéraires

International audienceTypical for the Arras Culture of eastern Yorkshire is the presence of inhumation burials – some of which are chariot burials – and of square barrows. Long-distance social networks are probably at the origin of the introduction of these funerary rites into Yorkshire towards the early 3rd century BC. They coincide with the spread of chariot burials in many parts of northern Gaul, at a time when international contacts seem to intensify, resulting in a rapid diffusion of new technologies, art styles and ideologies. As the connection between the Arras Culture and northern Gaul is most apparent in the field of ritual, the possible role of the druids must be examined. The druids were the authority on matters of ritual and the guardians of oral lore ; as such they had good knowledge of their local funerary practices and of thoseof their ancestors, but also of the customs in neighbouring regions and beyond. Historical sources attest that they travelled fairly regularly ; some of them had even received their education in Britain. No doubt this mobility of the druids lead to the creation of social networks specific to their own religious and intellectual class, but not unrelated to the networks of the secular elite to whom they acted as councellors

When new feels good. Enhancing variety seeking by using subtle priming

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