Abstract
The steady increase of biogeochemical and biomolecular data is refining traditional anthropological and archaeological hypotheses about the genetic history and territorial mobility patterns of European human groups during the Late Iron Age. Compared with other geographic areas, however, only few data are yet available for those “Celtic” groups occupying the Northern Italian and Swiss territories during this period. Even fewer are collaborative research projects trying to compare these different types of information for these geographic areas. The resulting knowledge gap is especially relevant given the archaeologically and historically documented networks (cultural, commercial, and migratory) between the two sides of the Alps in this period. With CELTUDALPS we aim to address these issues by means of a multidisciplinary analysis of a large (ca. 300) individuals representing La Tène cultural groups inhabiting modern Switzerland and Northern Italy between the 4th-1st centuries BCE. By applying a range of methods including the analysis of ancient DNA and isotopic (δ15N, δ13C, δ34S, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr) data, and the quantitative analysis of funerary patterns, CELTUDALPS aims to: (a) estimate the differences and similarities in territorial mobility between these groups; (b) reconstruct their genetic history and variation; (c) explore the possible links between mobility, kinship patterns, and social organization in each area. Here, we present the theoretical background and research design of the project, illustrate the state of the art of the project with examples selected from our most recent results, and discuss the planned next steps of our research.