New approaches to the Celtic urbanisation process
Abstract
During the last four centuries BC, non-Mediterranean Europe undergoes deep economic and social transformations exemplified by the appearance of large agglomerations that already had urban characteristics is one of the most important landmarks. The development of such urbanisation process in this area, beginning four centuries before the Roman conquest, has raised questions to protohistorian archaeologists for a long period of time.
A better understanding of this phenomenon requires two main revaluations. The first is to reconsider the extent of agglomeration diversity, not in the light of morphological (open vs fortified settlements) but in a functional sense. Secondly, the urbanisation process needs to be perceived not only through the agglomerations themselves, but as a long-term territorial phenomenon, which affects the entire range of settlements. Rhythms of creation, networks and functions of those sites have to be studied in aim to follow the development of the urbanisation in Central and Western Europe. It will also highlight the close ties of this process with the emergence of the first state structures in this area.