Gyöngyössy Márton (szerk.): Perspectives on the Past. Major Excavations in County Pest (Szentendre, 2008)
Ohe first Celtic groups arrived to western Transdanubia in the Late Iron Age, at the turn of the 5th/4th centuries SC. In the ensuing decades, the Celts - who are described in detail in the written sources - occupied the entire territory of the Carpathian Basin. Living in tribes that formed a loose alliance, the Celts could boast a highly developed economy and the widespread use of iron in their communities. They were the first to use spades, ploughshares, sickles, scissors and pruning knives made from iron. The use of the potter’s wheel in pottery manufacture became truly common under the Celts. They minted coins modelled on Greek and Roman coinage; magnificent coins of the Celts have been found also in County Pest at Vác, Tahitótfalu, Biatorbágy and Százhalombatta. Several settlements and a few richly furnished burials have come to light during the recent excavations, for example at Solymár. The conquering Roman troops found Celtic and Illyrian tribes in the region, which later became the province of Pannonia. County Pest was inhabited by the Celtic Eraviscus tribe in the La Тёпе D period (later 1st century BC to the mid-1st century AD). Since the Roman occupation of Pannonia's northern part was a by and large peaceful process, the Eraviscans remained in their original territory, bounded by the Danube in the north and the east. The Illyrian Azalus tribe was their neighbour in the west, the Celtic Hercuniates tribe in the south. Most of the Celtic settlements in County Pest are represented by open villages and small homesteads, lying along the Danube and other watercourses. They also occupied the earlier fortified settlements, such as the one at Százhalombatta, and built several new ones. The fortified oppidum on Mount Gellert in Budapest was their tribal centre. 1 2 3 4 1. Late Celtic brooch from Biatorbágy 2. Early Celtic brooch from the cemetery at Solymár 3. Jewellery from the cemetery at Solymár 4. Celtic iron spearhead from Zöld Cave at Budakalász
