Tène is the name of the second age of iron. The site éponyme, discovered in 1857, is located on the communal territory of Sailor-Epagnier, in the Canton of Neuchâtel in Suisse, on the north-eastern point of the Neuchâtel Lake, with the mouth of the Thielle. A museum bears the name of this period: the Laténium (located at a few kilometers of the site), on the commune of Hauterive.
The excavations of Tène, started in 1857 with colonel Friedrich Schwab after the correction of water of the Jura (which lowered the level of the Neuchâtel Lake of almost 3m), allowed the discovery of many weapons (swords) and ornaments. Two bridges which passed on the antique Thielle river are the points of offering of a vast sanctuary of outdoor.
The site, which revealed an important quantity of objects of IIe age of iron and several prehistoric habitats , gave its name to the age of recent iron in 1872, when Swedish archeologist B.E. Hildebrand worked out its chronology, while the age of old iron was named Hallstatt.
Chronological systems
System of Tischler
Thereafter, the period of Tène was subdivided in three phases (by Otto Tischler in 1881) according to the form of the swords and the fibules:-
old -400 with -300: fibule with free foot (Duchkov) and sword with point frayed with sleeve with circular snap
- average -300 with -100: fibule with foot attached to the top of the arc, longer sword and sleeve with pointed or slightly round snap
- recent -100 at the beginning of the Christian era: fibule with framework as a door tongue, sword with end rounded, of size only.
This system was useful thereafter basic for the regional chronologies.
Systems German (Reinecke) and French (Déchelette)
The period nevertheless was cut out again in four phases (by Paul Reinecke in 1902 for Germany, and by Joseph Déchelette which corrects the chronology of Tischler in 1914 for France). This one adds in particular Tène IV for British Isles:- Tène I (starting from second half of fifth century BC)
- Tène II/III (until the Roman conquest)
- Tène IV (reserved for British Isles)
Artistic styles of Jacobsthal
Lastly, in 1944, Paul Jacobsthal publishes his chronology in Early Celtic Art . It is founded on the observation of four artistic styles suitable for Celtic space:- old Style: -500 with -400
- Style of Wadalgesheim: -400 with -300
- plastic Style: beginning of IIIe century
- Style of the Hungarian swords: beginning of IIIe century
Synthesis
Today, the systems of Tischler (in particular applied to Champagne old), of Reinecke (German system) and Déchelette (French system) coexist. Paul-Marie Duval as for him proposed the synthetic and corrected system which follows:- Tène I: -475/-450 to -300/-200 (severe style)
- Tène II: -300/-250 to -120/-100 (free style)
- Tène III: -120/-100 to 0 (severe style)
Finally, one can retain that Tène starts at the end of Hallstatt and that it cuts out into three or four great phases: during IIIe century before JC, about the middle of IIe century before JC (at the time of the conquest of the Narbonnese) and finally, until towards -20 to -15, i.e. the beginning of the hairy romanisation of Gaulle. British Isles are treated separately. See Celtic histories.
Civilization
The Celtic civilization of Tène reaches the Balkans (Yugoslavia), the Greece (taken Delphes in -279), Asia Mineure (Galates in -275) the very whole Gaulle (between the Garonne and the Seine, v. -500), the Spain (Celtibères, v. -500).Consequence of an internal crisis, reorganization of the trade-circuits or fights between Greek and Etruscan for the control of the exchanges, the citadels of the Celtic of the first iron age, lung of the commercial relations is abandoned the ones after the others towards -500 with the profit of a more rural lifestyle dominated by a warlike Chefferie. Areas are distinguished like the new centers from Celtic civilization in Ve century: the the Rhineland (culture of Hunsrück Eiffel, the Bohemia, the Champagne and the Ardenne S). A slow evolution occurs in the habits and the productions. One finds the stamnos Etruscan (vase containing the pure wine) in the rich tombs of Ve century: in Mound-Saint-Valentine (Haute-Marne) or Altrier (Luxembourg). The imported mirror of Etrurie, or its imitation, is frequent in the female burials (Utliberg, close to Zurich, Mound-Saint-Valentine). Funerary furniture let foresee a less social disparity between the powerful ones and the remainder of the people. The Mediterranean imports drop, the jewels are less sumptuous. The burials of the chiefs lose of their monumentality, by preserving their standard furniture: the dagger of parade makes place to the complete warlike panoply, the tank with two wheels, lighter and fast, the tank of parade replaces.
In Champagne, the vast cemeteries of the second iron age comprise, sign of a dense settlement, tombs punts without tumulus, dug in the chalky ground. The ceramics shards found present regional characters “marniens” (vase of Cheppe). The œnochoés Etruscan ones (Nap-Bionne, Nap-Peat and Sept-Saulx) attest relations with Etrurie. The most important men (150 tombs) are buried on their tank with two wheels, generally armed and carry a pointed bronze helmet. More, the infantrymen do not keep that their weapons: swords, lances and javelins. The women have fasten of belt, the fibules, the jewels like the torque , which carried as of adolescence, appears invested of a crowned significance. Ve and the beginning of IVe century enjoy a great stability, significant in the productions. The company seems rather levelling. The clear prevalence of the female tombs however marks the progressive departure of the men.
Chronology of the second Age of iron
- towards -600 (Hallstatt) foundation of the colony phocéenne of Massalia on the territory of Ségobriges
- -396 the Gallic ones cross the Alps on the initiative of Ambigat, the king of Bituriges (Sénons, the Andes, Insubres and Boïens)
- -386 Défaite Romans vis-a-vis Sénons on Combined. 30.000 Celts carried out by Brennus hold to ransom Rome
- -367 Of the Celtic mercenaries are engaged against Thébains in a task force of Syracuse
- -332 Peace treaty between Rome and Sénons
- -279 Sac of Delphes by the Celts migrating towards the East
- -232 the territory of Sénons ( ager gallicus ) is confiscated by Rome
- -216 Incursion of Hannibal as a Gaulle cisalpine. Rising of Boïens against Rome.
- -125 Conquête of the Narbonnese
- Towards -82 with -44 Boïens of Pannonia are victims of the attack of the Daces carried out by their king Burebistas. Destruction of the oppidum of Bratislava.
- -58 Beginning of the War of Gaules
- -52 Demolished Gallic army of Vercingétorix to Alésia. The Gallic chief is made prisoner by Jules César
- -51 Défaite overcome of Alésia which had taken refuge in Uxellodunum: Gaulle is Roman.
- -9 with -6 the oppidum of Stradonice (Bohemia) is burnt, probably by the German ones: invasion of Marcomans.
- then, development of a Germanic Civilization on these grounds.
See too
Tène gives the adjective laténien () .
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