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Palmette and Circle: Early Celtic Art in Britain and its Continental Background

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2014

Otto-Herman Frey
Affiliation:
Seminar für Vor- und Frühgeschichte, Philipps Universität, Marburg a.d. Lahn; Department of Archaeology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH
J. V. S. Megaw
Affiliation:
Seminar für Vor- und Frühgeschichte, Philipps Universität, Marburg a.d. Lahn; Department of Archaeology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH

Summary

Following an outline of some aspects of continental Early Celtic art in which the importance of Mediterranean plant-derived motifs and compass construction work is emphasised, the authors consider some significant aspects of the development of the various sword sub-styles. An analysis of selected insular pieces points out the differences from, rather than the seeming similarities to continental Celtic art. It is argued that the earliest of such pieces cannot antedate the developed third century sword style(s) though absolute chronology is impossible to achieve as yet. A final section indicates that the later insular styles see a unique re-emergence of the reliance on compass based designs.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1976

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