Fibulae of Middle La Tène type on Sicily and in Calabria

Abstract

On Sicily and in Calabria a series of find-spots has produced wire-like fibulae of Middle La Tène type, both in Punic dominated western Sicily, as well as in the Greek permeated east of the island. As far as one can see they all seem to be examples with highly arched bows, multi-looped spirals and upward chords, which indicate a dating to the 3rd/2nd century B. C. (Reinecke LT C). One can assume them to be associated with the presence of Celtic or Celto-Iberian mercenaries, whom literary sources mention for the time of the First Punic War. The Sicilian-Calabrian fibulae of Middle La Tène type diverge in shape from those from Central Europe, so that we cannot propose direct connections, but ones with intermediate stages. The best comparisons point to the Iberian Peninsula. Whereas fibulae of the early Late La Tène period on Sicily and in Calabria seem to be almost completely lacking, there is again a large number of foreign fibulae during the Caesarian and Augustan period, which could be connected with the presence of troops during the Civil War and the settlement of veterans by Augustus.