Abstract
This paper was formed from an astonishment : the Gauls, gold diggers and producers, would not have a specific term to design this metal, as one says… But the analysis of toponymic evidence in Argant-in the Gallic territory shows that words formed on this radical, especially Argantomagos and Argantorate - the best known being Argenton-sur-Creuse and Strasbourg - designed trade and possibly processing centres, not of silver but of gold. The first ones could correspond to the diffusion of extracted gold in lowland markets, the second ones being related to metal washing products. Comparisons with previous data, in northern Italy as in Spain, or even in Asia Minor (Galatia), show that the ancient Celtic name of gold was really formed on the Indo-European root * arg-, widened in * arg(ant)-, meaning shiny metal. Signs of similar traditions are found in Gallic magistracy names under Caesarean times, when the Latin duality aurum-argentum begins to be superimposed upon old designations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
