Celts, Crops and Centralisation
| Name: | Celts, Crops and Centralisation |
|---|---|
| Researchers: |
Dudová Lydie (head – principal researcher) Lekeš Dušan (member of research team) Kadlec Martin (member of research team) Svitavská Svobodová Helena (member of research team) Hájková Petra (member of research team) Jamrichová Eva (member of research team) Fránková Markéta (member of research team) |
| Provider: | GA ČR |
| Number: | GF25-19610L |
| Web: | https://paleoekologie.cz/projects/ |
| Realization from: | 2025 |
| Realization to: | 2028 |
| Summary: | This project investigates the emergence of large lowland settlements in Central Europe during the 3rd century BC. While these settlements, which predate the more famous oppida, have traditionally been linked to a boom in trade and craft production, this research proposes a new hypothesis. The core idea is that significant improvements in agriculture and surplus food production might have been the primary cause for the growth of these settlements, not just a result. Since Late Iron Age society was predominantly agrarian, a surplus of food would have been a necessary precondition for further specialization in crafts. The project is a collaborative effort by researchers from multiple disciplines and institutions in the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. By combining archaeological, archaeobotanical, and palaeoecological analysis, the team aims to shed new light on the role of agriculture and re-evaluate this period of change. |