The Morphology of Bronze and Early Iron Age Celts from Siberia

The Morphology of Bronze and Early Iron Age Celts from Siberia

DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2016.44.4.067-075

D.A. Nenakhov
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

Morphological characteristics of Siberian Bronze and Early Iron Age celts are described with special regard to typology. The fi rst steps in this direction were taken by V.A. Gorodtsov (1916), S.A. Teploukhov (1929), M.P. Gryaznov (1941), V.N. Chernetsov (1947), etc. On the basis of these and later studies, it has become possible to visualize and classify all major morphological features of celts with a view towards arriving at their typology. The method is illustrated by the analysis of a Seima-Turbino celt. The set of traits includes over seventy characteristics of the socket, blade, cutting edge, loops, socket-blade joint, casting technique, decoration, and dimensions. Formalized trait codes will enable us to proceed to a statistical analysis of celts based on a maximum amount of traits.

Keywords: Siberia, Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, celts