Key research themes
1. How were large empty spaces within Iron Age hillforts and oppida used, and what can archaeobotanical evidence reveal about their function?
This theme investigates the nature and function of large unbuilt areas inside Iron Age oppida and hillforts, focusing on understanding their internal spatial organization beyond buildings. This research matters because these empty spaces have been historically understudied despite their potential importance in interpreting urban planning, social life, and economic activities within these settlements. Multiproxy archaeobotanical methods provide direct evidence for land use and human activities, challenging or refining previous interpretations which were often based on theoretical or ethnographic models alone.
2. What characterizes the diverse trajectories of Iron Age oppida and hillforts in terms of urbanism, settlement organization, and socio-political function in Europe?
This theme explores the diverse forms and modes of urbanism represented by Iron Age oppida and hillforts across Europe, moving beyond classic concepts derived from Mediterranean models. It investigates whether these fortified sites represent early urban centers, low-density urbanism, proto-urbanism, or alternative socio-political entities. Understanding these trajectories is pivotal for contextualizing social complexity, power structures, and regional identities within the European Iron Age and assessing their relationship to contemporary and earlier settlement traditions.
3. How did hillforts function as expressions of social power, defense, and community identity in European Iron Age contexts?
This research theme focuses on the interpretative frameworks for hillfort function emphasizing social display, defensive utility, and political or military roles. It involves evaluating archaeological evidence such as fortification construction, artifact distributions, landscape placement, and mortuary practices to understand how hillforts symbolized elite power, community cohesion, and territorial control. This theme informs broader debates on social stratification and conflict in prehistoric Europe.