The Celts of the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

Archaeological investigations carried out in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula during recent years have contributed to the identification of the cultural characteristics of its ancient populations, called Keltikoi or Celtici by Ephorus, Herodotus, Strabo and Pliny. From a detailed analysis of the types and distribution of the material culture, references in the Classical sources, epigraphic evidence, contemporary observations, and the presence of an individual decorative style of hand-made pottery, it is now possible to record the specific cultural traits of those native populations that occupied, at least from the end of the fifth century BC, the basins of the Sado and Guadiana Rivers in both Spain and Portugal. This context represents a new combination of cultural and ethnic traits that could be due to the incorporation of foreign elements, the closest parallels of which, based on style, philology and beliefs, are located in the central Douro River basin, the land of the Vaccei and Ulteriores Celtiberi peoples. In this way, it is possible to comprehend the historical migrations described by Strabo and Pliny as the origin of these Celtic peoples of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula.