Iron Age Thought: Reconciling Local and General Inthe Iron Age

British Iron Age studies have moved from the ideas of pan-Celtic societies, mass folk migrations and generalising processual models, to more geographically specific studies that emphasise regionality. Such a shift in approach has explained local variation and diversity in Iron Age society, giving more highly nuanced social interpretations that place the agent more centre stage and explore the dynamics of social interaction. Yet, what do we do with the evidence that ideas, material culture, and social practices were shared over vast geographic areas? Some seemingly similar concepts and objects were held and used by different communities, sometimes living great distances apart. Iron Age Thought will reconcile these two scales of analysis by addressing the dynamics of how diverse local communities realised wider concerns beyond their immediate horizons. This timely volume will build on the two major developments in theoretical archaeology, 'New Archaeology' and 'Post-Processualism', to move beyond the limits of each paradigm.