Celts in Transylvania

Overview of the Hallstatt and La Tène cultures.
  Core Hallstatt territory (HaC, 800 BC).
  Eventual area of Hallstatt influence (by 500 BC, HaD).
  Core territory of the La Tène culture (450 BC).
  Eventual area of La Tène influence (by 250 BC).
The territories of some major Celtic tribes of the late La Tène period are labeled.
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The appearance of Celts in Transylvania can be traced to the later La Tène period (c. 4th century BC).[1] Excavation of the great La Tène necropolis at Apahida, Cluj County, by S. Kovacs at the turn of the 20th century revealed the first evidence of Celtic culture in Romania. The 3rd–2nd century BC site is remarkable for its cremation burials and chiefly wheel-made funeral vessels.[2]

A historical timeline of the Celts of Transylvania can be derived from archaeological finds at La Tène, but there are almost no ancient records that allow reconstruction of political events in the area. The Celts exercised politico-military rule over Transylvania between the 4th and 2nd century BC and brought with them a more advanced iron-working technology. They were also responsible for the spread of the potter's wheel into a much wider area than the one they occupied.[3]

  1. ^ Koch 2005, p. 549.
  2. ^ Zirra 1976, p. 4.
  3. ^ Nagler, Pop & Barbulescu 2005, p. 78.