Kazakevich G. Celts in the ethnic and cultural processes in Central and Eastern Europe (3rd c. BC - 1 c. AD).

The dissertation is devoted to the problem of Iron Age Celts' involvement in the processes of ethnic interaction which were taking their place in the territory of Central and Eastern Europe in turn of eras as well as the Celtic influence on local population cultural development. The study is based on the wide range of written and archaeological sources. The concepts of Celtic identity and migrations are re-assessed from the social anthropological point of view. It is stated that the Celtic military raids of 279-277 BC were preceded by the long period of contacts. The Celtic migrants in the Balkans moved according to the well-defined routes and settled down forming the ethnic enclaves and assimilating the native population. The great role of cattle breeding contributed to the Iron Age Celts' ability to make the long distance movements. Basing on the survey of sources about the Celtic and Germanic migrations, it is suggested that the migrations contributed to the increasing of social mobility and gender roles changing in the barbarian society. The interrelations of the Celts with autochtonous population in Thrace, Illyria and Carpathian basin are overviewed. Special attention is paid to the Celtic presence in the territory of today's Ukraine and probable contacts between the Celts and the Slavs. The following problems are discussed: the La T?ne culture of the Trans-Carpathian (Upper Tisza) region and its links with the Central European Celts, the Celtic imported goods in the cultures of the forest and steppe-forest zones of Ukraine and Belorus in 3-first cent. BC, the Celtic military and mercenary activity in the North Pontic area and the Kingdom of Bospor, the La T?ne influence on the development of the Pontic region's decorative art, as well as the Eastern European contribution to the late La T?ne art. It is pointed out that the Upper Tisza area was the only region of today's Ukraine which was exposed to the colonization of the Central European Celts. However, there are many archaeological and linguistic records on the Celtic presence eastward of the Carpathians and their influence on the local Poiene?ti-Lukashevka, Zarubyntsi and Przeworsk cultures. It is stated that only comparably small Celtic and Germanic groups from Temperate Europe penetrated in the region in 3-first cs. BC. However the autochthonous elite adopted the La T?ne artifacts as symbolic objects reflecting the high social rank of their possessors. New ritual practices, styles of combat and loanwords (e.g. ethnic and place names containing Celtic elements) were also introduced into the region. The author pays attention to the problem of contacts between the Celts and Slavs. It is stated that such contacts could take their place in the area of Przeworsk and Zarubyntsi cultures of the late La T?ne period. Considering the fact that the distinction of Slavic ethnic component in those cultures may be problematic, it is argued that the Slavs could have contacts with the ancestors of Central European Celts during the Age of Migrations.