A recent genetic study of ancient populations has revealed details about the origin and expansion of Celtic languages in Europe, an enigma that has intrigued historians and linguists for decades. The research, conducted by an international team of geneticists and archaeologists, challenges traditional theories and suggests that the spread of these languages was closely linked to the migration of human groups from Central Europe during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.
The Celtic languages, such as Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton, survive today in the westernmost regions of Europe. However, thousands of years ago, these languages dominated vast areas of the continent, from the Iberian Peninsula to Anatolia. The great question has been: how and from where did they expand?
Traditionally, three main theories have been proposed regarding the diffusion of Celtic languages. One holds that they spread along the Atlantic coast with the Bell Beaker culture in the Early Bronze Age. Another suggests an origin in France, Iberia, or northern Italy. The third, and now the one most supported by the new research, points to an expansion from Central Europe in the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age, linked to the Urnfield, Hallstatt, and La Tène cultures.
The study has utilized genetic data from more than 750 ancient individuals, including key samples from France, Germany, Austria, and the British Isles. Through DNA analysis, researchers have traced population movements and detected genetic admixture patterns that align with the expansion of Celtic languages.
The results show a strong genetic influence from the Urnfield culture in Western Europe beginning approximately 3,200 years ago. The population associated with the Knovíz subgroup in the Carpathian Basin expanded westward, reaching Britain 2,800 years ago and Iberia around 2,500 years ago. This finding reinforces the idea that Celtic languages emerged and spread from Central Europe, rather than originating along the Atlantic coast or in southwestern Europe.
The analysis of genetic heritage also reveals a pattern of significant migrations during the Bronze Age and the early Iron Age. In England, for example, the data show a genetic transition at two key moments: first, with the arrival of populations linked to the Bell Beaker culture around 4,500 years ago, and then with the expansion of the Urnfield and Hallstatt peoples between 3,200 and 2,800 years ago.
In France and the Czech Republic, the presence of genetic ancestry from southeastern Europe (Hungary and Serbia) suggests contacts and influences from populations in the Balkans. Additionally, the increased proportion of genes from Anatolian populations in the Iron Age indicates complex interactions that contributed to shaping Europe’s linguistic landscape during that period.
The study’s conclusion is that the expansion of the Urnfield culture is closely related to the spread of Celtic languages. This supports the theory that these languages disseminated with the migrations of populations from Central Europe toward the west.
This discovery also challenges the idea that Celtic spread alongside the Bell Beaker culture in the Early Bronze Age. Although this culture had a significant influence on the genetic makeup of Western Europe, new data suggest that Celtic languages expanded at a later stage, along with the Urnfield culture.
The study also highlights the importance of continuing to explore the history of Celtic languages through the genetics of ancient populations. As more DNA samples from different periods and regions are analyzed, the picture of Europe’s linguistic evolution can be further refined.
SOURCES
Hugh McColl, Guus Kroonen, et al., Tracing the Spread of Celtic Languages using Ancient Genomics. bioRxiv, doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.28.640770
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