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
Anthoons, Greta
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
migration elite network modes cultural_exchange iron_age europe case_study contact continent culture chariot burial culture reveal_strong link continent precisely nature connection chariot burial continental feature introduce immigrant northern gaul local british component strong feature adopt different_region northern gaul impossible identify immigrant homeland migration type mobility iron_age europe certain individual travel long_distance necessarily economic reason social_network specifically elite network create mechanism like strategic marriage perhaps compare archaeological_data east_yorkshire evidence various region_northern gaul become_clear network offer satisfactory explanation moreover introduction chariot burial east_yorkshire coincide appearance phenomenon several region_northern gaul example paris area region renowned rich chariot burial