Factors and Mechanisms of the Migration of the Celtic Ruteni in Central and Eastern Europe

According to the hypothesis proposed here, between the first century BCE and the eighth century CE there were at least two major migration trajectories of the Celtic Ruteni.The first wave moved from Narbonese Gaul to the province of Noricum and from there to the Danube region, the Carpathian foothills, the Black Sea area, and the Dnieper basin.The second followed a route toward the Baltic coast, to the island of Rgen, and laterafter the subjugation of the Rugii by the Gothstogether with them to the Dnieper region.As a result of these periodic migration impulses, the Celtic Ruteni entered into long-term contact with the Slavic (proto-Ukrainian) population, becoming involved in the processes that shaped the Ukrainian ethnic community, its collective identity, and the early state formations of Rus'.The migratory activity of the Celtic Ruteni was determined by a complex of factors.The decisive impulse was the Roman conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar in 58-50 BCE, which lasted about eight years and ended with the incorporation of Gallic territories into the Roman state.The Celtic Ruteni were characterized by a high level of economic specialization: within their area (southern Gaul, the Central Massif) mining, metallurgy, and trade were well developed, including the extraction of iron and copper ores and gold-bearing alluvial deposits.The Ruteni participated actively in long-distance transcontinental trade between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, exchanging metals, salt, amber, wine, and ceramics.An important indicator of their economic autonomy is the fact that they minted their own gold and silver coinage, which was possible only under conditions of stable access to metal resources.Thus, the Celtic Ruteni appear not as a purely military-tribal community but as a complex society with developed extractive industries and trade, typical of La Tne Celtic civilization.