09-27-2012, 12:43 AM
Quote:Celtic society in Gallia as a wholeHeh.
Anyway, I did a similar paper for my MA some years back, There's a couple of sources I found especially useful for archaeology discussion in general, and although I focused on Pre-Roman Britain (how to annoy any prehistorians in your presence...) there might be useful arguments in these sources for you to follow, as well as references to data. For that specifically, you're better focusing on site reports, if you can find them.
Bear in mind there is generally a vast gulf between how Roman historians describe foreign diets and what can be archaeologically attested; however the theme of the feast and communal drinking does tend to dominate. Archaeologists in general attribute expensive imports of wine and tableware to elite displays in feasting contexts, which was the angle I took in my essay. The Dietler papers I found especially interesting at the time in this context. Also, his name is funny.
Carver, E. 2001. The Visibility of Imported Wine and its Associated Accoutrements in Later Iron Age Britain. BAR British Series 325. Oxford
Dietler, M. 1996. 'Feasts and Commensal Politics in the Political Economy: Food, Power and Status in Prehistoric Europe' in W. Schiefenhövel and Weissner, P. (eds), Food and the Status Quest: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Providence, Oxford: Berghahn Books, 87-126
Dietler, M and Hayden, B. 2001. 'Digesting the Feast: Good to Eat, Good to Drink, Good to Think' in M. Dietler and B. Hayden (eds) Feasts: Archaeological and Ethnographic Perspectives on Food, Politics and Power. Washington; London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1-20
Hayden, B. 1996. 'Feasting in Prehistoric and Traditional Societies'. In P. Wiessner and W. Schiefenhövel (eds) Food and the Status Quest: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Providence and Oxford: Berghahn Books, 127-148
Pitts, M. 2005. 'Pots and Pits: Drinking and Deposition in Late Iron Age South East Britain'. Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 24(2): 143-161
