Helmut Birkhan

Kelten-Einfalle an Der Donau Helmut Birkhan

The guiding principle of the Linz Celtology Meeting 2005 (Linzer Keltologentagung 2005) was that Celtology should not be considered an extension of Indo-European Studies, nor a discipline that should be classified under Prehistoric and Early History. To the greatest extent possible, research on the Celts should apply the true meanings of "integrated" and "interdisciplinary", thus encompassing the most important and the largest number of Celtic cultural manifestations possible. Not only those ethnic groups that, in ancient times, were considered Celts or belonging to the Celts should be taken into account, but also those that have been described as (Island) Celts since the early modern period, namely those from the British Isles, Ireland and Brittany, as based on their common original language. Thus the volume deals with evidence and problems concerning archaeology, history, linguistics, literature and the history of religions, although methodological questions and more general questions of ethno-genesis, gender, the reception of the Celts, etc. are also included. In order to create an all-around picture of the Celts, forty-eight internationally known German-speaking representatives of the Celtic scientific community, from Russia to Ireland, have submitted their work. A broad picture of Celtology as based on cultural studies is thereby presented. Then again, there are also clashing and contradictory research results, revealing Celtology to be a very lively field. Thus the anthology, with its broad and solidly discussed range of topics, should speak to many interested parties. It will soon "tempt" more questions and will become an essential handbook for all those interested in research on the Celts.