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The inventiveness of the Celts
#1
After giving it a thought, the Celts and notably the Gauls were quite an inventive bunch, and had perhaps one of the most advanced proto-urban societies at their time.

Apart from mining and metallurgy, where they excelled anyway, they have been credited with the invention of:

- the freely pivoting axle
- the chain-mail
- the soap (an early kind of)
- the barrel

What more?
Stefan (Literary references to the discussed topics are always appreciated.)
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#2
Indeed they had excellent inventions.

For example the mowing machine.
Look here: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/limes-museu ... /AF109.jpg


In metallurgy they were far ahead the republican romans.
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#3
I moved this to the proper section folks! Keep discussing!
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#4
I don't think we can find any European culture that did not invented something.
Actually I like a lot the interlocked patterns in Celtic decoration.
Their metallurgy was truly something.

Kind regards
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#5
Don't forget the Gallic iron helmet the Romans adapted.

Some think the Roman roads in Northern Europe are really "re-paved" Celtic ones....

What about the snaffle bit...?

Johnny
Johnny Shumate
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#6
Well there is evidence of paved roads in Europe from the Bronze Age.
I trust that the most organized Celtic realm probably maintained a road system. Gives the ruler extra cash from traders taxation :lol:
Kind regards
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#7
Quote:Some think the Roman roads in Northern Europe are really "re-paved" Celtic ones....

Yeah, only silly documentary makers who did no real research... :twisted:
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#8
Quote:
Johnny Shumate:3l6h6jvy Wrote:Some think the Roman roads in Northern Europe are really "re-paved" Celtic ones....

Yeah, only silly documentary makers who did no real research... :twisted:

I had a look at the Fiskerton dig report yesterday. Pretty amazing report. I love the all the bone "spears" that they found. I agree, many Roman roads are just improved Celtic roads. If you don't believe that paved roads existed before the Romans, think again.
[url:3l6h6jvy]http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/31800/[/url]
Lugorix

aka:  Jeffrey Adam Scharp
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#9
Quote:If you don't believe that paved roads existed before the Romans, think again.
Ah, but that is different! :!:

Of course paved roads existed before the Romans, but Roman roads are not 'just' paved roads, are they? Roman roads consist of several layers (not just one pavement surface renewed time and again), together with drainage ditches, as well as a straightness that is unique to the Roman road system.

Pre-Roman (and post-Roman) roads often go from village to village, meandering through the region. Roman roads, on the other hand, caused existing settlements to moved towards where the roads were built.

I'm not sure if the Roman stole the idea from the Etruscans, as they did with so many Etruscan ideas. But Celts? No. There is no evidence at all that such 'Roman' roads were constructed outside Italy before the Romans came.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#10
Stefanos wrote, Actually I like a lot the interlocked patterns in Celtic decoration.

Believe it or not, Early Celtic art was characterized by a number of intricate, curvilinear styles, but some authorities (Angus Konstan, Historical Atlas of the Celtioc World, Checkmark Books, 2001, which includes several chapters on Celtic art) claim that the intricately woven patterns we commonly associate with insular Celtic art, especially in Ireland, was a "parallel development" of Germanic and Celtic styles. (pp 136-7)

See also that work for spectacular photos of Celtic art.
"Fugit irreparabile tempus" (Irrecoverable time glides away) Virgil

Ron Andrea
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#11
There is an art form called "fear of vaqum".
It appears and in Germanic art too. In Greece it appeared in the Geometric period. The idea is to "fill" the surface with decorations.
I don´t belive that it is restricted only to Celts and "Germanics" I just like the Celtic interpretation.
Agree with Ron though that Ireland had managed to combine styles.

Kind regards
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#12
Quote:Indeed they had excellent inventions.

For example the mowing machine.
Look here: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/limes-museu ... /AF109.jpg

Err...in what direction does the machine move? Is this the one which Pliny refered to in his Naturalis Historia (or wasn't that in Raetia)?
Stefan (Literary references to the discussed topics are always appreciated.)
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#13
It moves to the right.
The donkey is pushing it forward.

Yes, i think this is what Pliny describes.
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#14
Hi.

The harvesting maschine /writter/ BC. 70 from Treveri tribe. Called: Vallus 8) Tongue

Regards
Vallus István Big Grin <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Big Grin" title="Very Happy" />Big Grin

A sagittis Hungarorum, libera nos Domine
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#15
Also more is being discovered all the time about the Celts. Apparently they had advanced metal making skills, greater than the Romans who copied some things, like chain mail. I also have a theory about the gladius and the Celtic swords. I feel the Romans just didn`t have (or copy) Celtic skills for making a longer sword. Romans perhaps only could smelt a sword that was short and fatter because of this. A superior blade can be longer and narrower which requires advanced smelting. Either the Romans never copied whatever reason, stubbornness for sentimental reasons to stick with the gladius perhaps or the Celts were able to keep their secrets.
Ralph Varsity
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