Intentionally broken vessels in Celtic graves

Abstract

Intentional destruction of objects is a rather frequent phenomenon in the Celtic world. In the past, the attention of researchers was primarily focused on damage to weapons. Intentional fragmentation – the breaking of clay vessels – has not yet been sufficiently explored. The subject of the article is these practices documented in La Tène graves in the Carpathian Basin, with a focus on selected cemeteries from the territory of southwest Slovakia (Dubník and Malé Kosihy) and northwest Hungary (Ludas). The author attempts to interpret the reasons for these practices in the context of the funerary rite based on an analysis of ways vessels were intentionally damaged, their position in the grave pit and also the types of these vessels.

Keywords

• intentionally broken
• fragments of vessels
• grave pit
• La Tène period
• funerary rites