An introduction to lecture series is given.

Robert Campbell,the presenter of the lecture, is introduced.

The speaker explains that the Celts have existed since 500 BC on the European continent. He is especially interested in the sites of early Celtic settlements. Using photos of his travels to some European Celtic sites he will highlight not only the evidence of the early Celts but also the widespread interest there is in Celts.

The speaker says that he began his travels at the mouth of the Minho River which divides Portugal and northwest Spain. He was not seeking new evidence of the early Celts, but rather to find the evidence about which he had read.

The speaker comments on his travels in Germany, the homeland of the Celts, and Austria including the source of the Danube River, Heuneburg and Stuttgart. The speaker highlights a hilltop fortress site, a Celtic wall, the “Prince’s Grave” and exhibits of Celtic artifacts. The speaker also notes the Hallstatt Celts and the salt mines and graveyard located in Hallstatt near Salzburg.

The speaker reviews some evidence found from the Celtic graves in Hallein, Austria. He notes that the Celts ranged from Portugal to Romania dominating Europe due to their iron weapons and tools. The speaker highlights the Celts’ artistic ability reflected in their designs and objects such as the figures he saw in Frög, Austria. The speaker briefly introduces the Celt’s La Tene phase.

Side B starts

The speaker notes that during the La Tene phase the Celts spread from Glatia, Turkey to the Seine River. While La Tene, Switzerland was of symbolic importance the strongest area of Celts was along the Moselle River between Trier and Koblenz. He also notes that the Rhine was the most important river for the Celts after the Danube and that a Celtic influence can be seen in many European place names.

Using examples, the speaker shows that while the Hallstatt pottery has geometric designs the La Tene art is abstract reflecting the Celtic imagination. He highlights the Gundestrup Cauldron found in Denmark which depicts Celtic mythology. The speaker points out that artifacts show elements of the Celtic culture which is a culture without writing.

The speaker explains that the Celts existed behind the Iron Curtain speculating they were looking for new land due to overpopulation or because they were marauding. The speaker notes that the Bohemian area of Czech takes its name from a Celtic tribe despite that today there are only Slavs. The speaker comments on a hilltop Celtic fortress near Zavist located on the Vltava down river from Prague.

The speaker continues his photo journey down the Danube River to Bratislava, Slovakia near Vienna and Budapest. The archeologists there show him some buried Celts. This is first hand information about the presence of Celts in this part of Europe. The speaker also highlights Gellert Hill, Budapest, a hilltop Celtic settlement on the Danube River from which the Celts controlled the Danube River.

The speaker notes that the Celts moved into the Carpathian Basin in the Transylvania area of Romania. He highlights the Iron Gate that is between Yugoslavia and Romania and points out that the Celts came down the Danube but did not go beyond the Iron Gate. The speaker tells a couple of anecdotes of his experience in Romania.

The speaker shows a Celtic site that existed where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet in Belgrade. The speaker begins his review of France by noting the importance of mistletoe to the Druids. France has many Celtic sites including a huge Celtic wall near Marseille and the Celtic goddess Sequanna is the origin of the name for the Seine River. He shows photos of Celtic artifacts found at the source of the Seine.

The speaker next visits the Iberian Peninsula. In Galicia and the northern half of Spain the Celts mixed with the Iberians from North Africa forming the Celtiberians. The speaker notes that over 5000 Celtic sites have been found in Portugal. The speaker shows recreated Celtic homes found in this area.

The speaker asks why did Celts move to the British Isles if they were dominating a large portion of Europe? He suggests that it may have been because of the climate. The recording ends before the speaker finishes his presentation.