German Celts

I realized today that my bookshelves are seriously lacking in a subject: archaeology. The kids have the whole week off for "winter" break (really, it's for Carnival/Fasching), and we've been trying to travel as much as possible. Today we went hiking in the Frankische Schweiz, a region that's sort of like the Ozarks in America--caves, bluffs, rivers, etc. We got off the train and climbed past a cool castle-turned-hotel and up through fields and cherry orchards to a very large hill with cliffs and limestone rock formations. The hill had two peaks, and a grassy saddle in the middle, and so we of course climbed both peaks. (This with a stroller. Remind me to bring the baby backpack next time!) We ate our lunch one one peak, with a stiff wind and a view of three? four? villages below us, and green fields and forests stretching in every direction. Then we slid down that hill to ascend the next one. Large gray boulders dotted the slope, and tons of people were up there (mostly they'd only hiked from the parking lot, however). There was a small chapel (locked) in the middle, and at either end of the sort of bowl-shaped grassy area were railings (minimal) overlooking a cliff. What was particularly interesting, though, was the fact that 3000 years ago, it was a Celtic settlement. The set of hills makes a natural fortress--very steep to ascend(!), and with stones that almost look like castle towers. A small bit of earth was cut away to reveal that there used to be a manmade wall there as well.

I guess the Greeks and Romans were interesting, but what really makes me curious are the Celts. They lived here so long, ate the same food I do, saw the same hills I do, wandered through the same forests. Their blood is my blood. And yet, we know so little about them because they didn't write. (Not the ones in Germany, anyway.) When I read accounts of my husband's great-great grandfather, I recognize family traits, small details that are still in the collective personality, if you will. This man died long before my husband was ever born, so they never had direct contact, and yet, the legacy of interests and personality is strong. I would have liked him. I wonder what traits I would recognize were I to meet one of my German Celtic ancestors? I hope that even if they didn't write, that they sat around the fire at told stories to their kids at night.