Elite Mobility and Funerary Practices in Early Iron Age Europe

Across Europe, from the British Isles to Central Europe, archaeologists have uncovered the lavish burials of Early Iron Age elites—powerful figures who shaped the continent’s protohistory through vast networks of influence and exchange. Yet, modern borders and linguistic divides have long hindered a truly comprehensive understanding of their role during this pivotal period in Europe’s past. Elite Mobility and Funerary Practices in Early Iron Age Europe presents the results of the first Joseph Déchelette Colloquium, held in 2022 at the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. Leading specialists unite to explore princely burials and elite power structures from the Late Bronze Age (Ha B2–3) to the dawn of the Late Hallstatt period (Ha D1–2). By placing these remarkable burials within their wider geographic and chronological context, the contributors shed new light on the long-term transformations that defined the first millennium BC—an era in which Europe took shape. Through cutting-edge research and fresh perspectives, this book offers a milestone in the study of European Iron Age archaeology, redefining our understanding of early elite networks and their lasting impact on the continent’s history.