Dimension socio-économique et symbolique des dépôts funéraires aristocratiques d’Europe occidentale (VIIIe-Ier s. avant J.-C.)

Abstract

During the whole span of the Iron Age, from 8th to 1st century BC, the funerary deposits in Europe underwent various changes, the most characteristic of which squares with the emergence of the princely system in the final Hallstatt period (6th century BC). The splendour of the burial deposits found in princely tombs, compared to the apparent modesty of those in previous or subsequent periods, has given rise to the elaboration of different social models. Some scholars interpret these findings as the concentration of power in the hands of a restricted number of chiefs, becoming more and more wealthy ; or as the manifestation of a social model becoming more complex by the emergence of an additional hierarchical rank. These models are however based on the direct analysis of funerary deposits. Generally, funerary objects are analysed in accordance with their primary function, meaning that they are interpreted according to their traditional use in everyday life, whatever the discovery context. It is via this analogical comparison that the function of objects can be determined and conclusions are thus drawn about the role played by the elite. Objects of Mediterranean origin, found in funerary protohistorical contexts in Western Europe have been studied using this basis. This paper underlines a new approach that takes into consideration the double appropriation of new objects by the elite, as markers of both individual and collective identity. This process combined with a perpetual revision of the composition of burial sets from each chronological phase, appears to be the most appropriate method to examine objects in their social dimension and thus answer legitimate concerns for the emergence of a more socially orientated archaeology.