BALKAN CELTS

In the tide of nationalism and revisionism which has marked the last century, our common European Celtic heritage has been systematically deconstructed, manipulated and denied. To balance this phenomenon, the BALKANCELTS organization presents the archaeological, numismatic, linguistic and historical facts pertaining to the Celts in Eastern Europe and Asia-Minor, within the context of the pan-European Celtic culture – a heritage which belongs to no nation, yet is common to all.

  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Balkancelts

 

ACADEMIA.EDU:

http://ucd-ie.academia.edu/BrendanMacGonagle

Finger Rings from the Balkan Celtic hillfort at Židovar (Serbia)

Silver “saddle rings” from the Celtic hillfort at Židovar (Banat region), northern Serbia

(2-1 c. BC)

 

Bronze rings from Židovar. One male ring of hammered thick bronze sheet, and female ring of cast bronze engraved with representations of a dolphin, palm branch and standing male figure.

(2-1 c. BC)

 

On the other Celtic treasures from Židovar see:

https://balkancelts.wordpress.com/2017/11/18/the-balkan-celtic-treasure-from-zidovar-serbia/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mac Congail

Celtic Bark Shield from Leicester (England)

The Celtic Bark shield discovered at Everards Meadows, south of Leicester (England) dates to between 395 and 255 BC

Experimental Reconstruction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RE

 

CUI BONO ? – Uncovering the System of Illegal Trade in Celtic Artifacts from the Balkans to Western Europe

Fascinating article by Vojislav Filipovic of the Serbian Institute of Archaeology which investigates the illegal trade in Celtic artifacts from the Balkans to western Europe, the falsification of official documents facilitating their sale, and the ‘respectable’ western auction houses which ultimately benefit from the destructive, immoral and illegal business of trafficking in our cultural heritage. 

https://www.academia.edu/41217196/Cultural_Heritage_of_Humankind_-_Cheap_Goods_for_the_Auction_Houses?fbclid=IwAR1sZUD44VT87oh84fy7Vrnj04xA_JtfA_-Q_4M0plhwr2bR45TVmn5PSHQ

 

VOICES OF THE DISAPPEARED (3) -Serpent-Head Armlets from a (looted) Celtic Burial at Sremska Mitrovitsa (Serbia)

 

Magnificent silver armlets, with coral inlay, looted from the burial of a Celtic lady at Sremska Mitrovica (Srem) in Serbia. In contrast to other parts of Celtic Europe, the serpent is very commonly depicted on Balkan Celtic art, indicating that it had a special religious significance for tribes in this part of Europe.

(3/2 c. BC)

 

MOCCOS – European God of the Wild Boar

 

Limestone pillar statue of the Boar God – MOCCOS, from Euffigneix, (Haute-Marne) France (1st c. BC)

Balkan Celtic Warrior Burial from Kladovo (e. Serbia)

Inventory of a Balkan Celtic warrior burial excavated at Ajmana, near Kladovo /  Кладово in the Bor district of  eastern Serbia. Grave goods in the (cremation) burial, which dates to the 1st century BC, included metal and ceramic vessels, knives, spears, and a ‘sacrificial’ curved dagger (Sica).

 

 

On Balkan Celtic Sacrificial Curved Daggers / Sicae see: https://balkancelts.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/curved-sacrificial-daggers/

 

Gold Celtic “Druid Rings”

 

3 gold Celtic finger rings from southern Germany, decorated with fantastic zoomorphic and anthropomorphic compositions – sold in 2017 to private buyers by the British Auction House Christie’s in New York. The religious iconography on such rings strongly suggest that they belonged to Celtic religious leaders / druids.

(4 c. BC)

Celtic Sword from Mala Kopanya, western Ukraine

Ritually killed (folded) La Têne sword from a Celtic warrior burial at Mala Kopanya, western Ukraine (late 1 c. BC / early 1 c. AD)

 

 

On Celtic Ukraine see: https://balkancelts.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/celto-scythians-and-celticization-in-ukraine-and-the-north-pontic-region/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Celtic Helmet from Giubiasco, Switzerland

 

 

Rare example of a fully preserved Celtic helmet – from a warrior burial at Giubiasco (Ticino), Switzerland. Such helmets date from the late 4th/early 3rd c. BC, i.e. the period of Celtic expansion into Italy which culminated in the destruction of the Roman army at the Battle of the Allia (18 July 390 BC), and the capture of Rome.

 

Resurrection Scene on the Mones Diadem

Fascinating narrative scene on a Celtic gold diadem from Mones in Asturias (Spain). The narrative features the themes of resurrection/ rebirth and the transformation of men into birds – a key element of the metempsychosis process and a common theme in Celtic art. 

(4/3 c. BC)