The Ancient Celts

An excellent book on the Celts, with a clear focus on the archaeological data that underly and support the interpretations of how societies evolved and interacted 2,500 years ago. Everything in this book is scrupulously researched but the details never get in the way of lucid writing. Part of that is due to the organisation of the text, which alternates between chronological, thematic and geographical perspectives, but Cunliffe manages to establish and maintain so many connections between the separate sections that the book as a whole never becomes compartmentalized. Scholarly though this work may be, it is very readable and Cunliffe's outstanding selection of supporting illustrations, maps and photographs contributes to that.

What this show more book is not is an exploration of daily life or on cultural history in the narrow sense. The perspective is decidedly macroscopic, focusing on the interplay between cultures and societies and on the gradual transformation of social institutions and community organization rather than taking a more personal point of view. I feel this is not a bad thing, since it would have diluted an otherwise strict adherence to factual data and the book would have lost a great deal of its focus.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Europe, told from an archeologist's and, which was much more refreshing to me, from a non-Classical perspective. The chapter on Religious systems is another good example of the solidity of this book.

In short, Cunliffe has produced a very informative, high-quality and insightful description of pre-Roman Europe. Highly recommended. show less

We tend to think of the Celts associated with the margins of Western Europe but they were once the dominate people of northern Europe well into Eastern Europe. Barry Cunliffe is a great guide for this thematic survey. A little academic and broad strokes but a lot to be learned. I listened to the audiobook version which is well done, the book is lavishly illustrated so misses a lot of needed context.

excellent factual exploration of the celts in ireland, Gb and europe