2026/07/20 by Thibaud Poigt, Kevin Parachaud · 2 voices
Arts and Humanities · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies
paper · doi:10.24072/pcjournal.749
openalex publication_date 2026/07/20 · openalex created_date 2026/07/21 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
This paper explores the question of Celtic weighing metrology through a combined analysis of archaeological and written sources. While the Iron Age has long been considered poorly documented with regard to measurement practices, recent studies, particularly those focusing on weighing equipment, have provided new evidence that allows a more nuanced assessment. Archaeological evidence suggests the existence of structured practices in several domains, particularly concerning weight ; whether they do not demonstrate the existence of a single unified “Celtic” system of measurement, they nevertheless suggest a degree of metrological coherence across large areas of Celtic Europe, allowing practical equivalences between different units. The article also reassesses the long-standing hypothesis that the Celts used a vigesimal counting system. By reviewing and discussing the demonstration of this idea, it shows that the evidence supporting a specifically “Gallic” vigesimal system remains weak, while the archaeological record nor the available historical sources provide convincing support for such a model.