Economy and Exchange

Nash-Briggs (2003) suggestion

• Argues for reciprocal elite hospitality between iron age Gaul and Italy

• Wealthy travellers exchanged goods through hosting gift-giving and news sharing → Not organised trade

Gaul Exports

• Metals (tinner, copper, gold), Salt and slaves

Italy Import

• Wine, Etruscan textiles, Broze metalwork/ceramics for feasting contexts

Importance of Salt

• Italy needed it for food preservation and textile production

• Gaulish salt was specifically exchanged for textiles

Evidence for slave exchange

• Etruscan tomb paintings show fair haired servants

• No direct archaeological evidence can confirm this

Nature of Slave Procurement

• In its early phase was coastal piracy and kidnapping

• In the later phases as ports became trading posts, piracy became counterproductive so shifted to in;and raids by Gaulish elites

Challenge to prestige goods economy

• Rather than mediterranean imports driving complexity, Gaul was an active participant

• The system was reciprocal with Gaul supplying essential commodities not just receiving luxury goods

Connection to Fernanadez-Gotz (2013)

• Both argue Iron Age complexity was internally driven

• Nash Briggs adds economic depth to Fernandez-Gotz developmental model