Archaeological culture · c. 800–450 BCE (Early Iron Age; Hallstatt C–D)
Hallstatt culture
The Hallstatt culture was the Early Iron Age culture of central Europe, named after the salt-mining site of Hallstatt in Austria. It is linked to early Celtic peoples.
Iron tools and weapons spread, and powerful chiefs ruled from hillforts such as the Heuneburg, trading with Greek colonies such as Massalia (Marseille) for luxury goods. Some were buried in rich mound graves with wagons. It was followed by the La Tène culture.
See Hallstatt culture on the map in 800 BCE
- On the map
- 800–450 BCE
How we know
These early Celtic-speaking peoples left no writing of their own; Greek writers only begin to mention Celts near the end of the period.
Sites
- Hallstatt salt mines and cemetery c. 1200–350 BCE (prehistoric mining)
- Heuneburg 7th–5th century BCE (mudbrick wall c. 600 BCE)