Rhône culture

The Rhône culture was an archaeological culture of the Early Bronze Age (c. 2200-1500 BC) located in eastern France and western Switzerland, centred along the Rhône river.^[1][2] The culture developed from the local Bell Beaker culture, possibly with further migrations from central Europe.^[3] According to Sergent (1995) the Rhône culture represents a southern variant of the Unetice culture.^[4] Rhône culture metalwork and pottery are particularly similar to those of the Straubing group in Bavaria.^[5][6]

Rhône culture

Geographical range	Eastern France, western Switzerland
Period	Early Bronze Age
Dates	c. 2200 BC-1500 BC
Preceded by	Bell Beaker culture
Followed by	Tumulus culture

See also: Bronze Age France and Bronze Age Switzerland

Artefacts and characteristics

The Thun-Renzenbühl axe^[7][8]

The Thun-Renzenbühl axe (c. 1800 BC), found near Thun and attributed to the Rhône culture, is one of the earliest examples of the use of damascening technique in the world.^[9][10] The gold inlay decoration on the axe may also have a numerical, astronomical meaning.^[11]

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  Dress pins with sun cross symbol, 2000-1600 BC
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

See also

• Únětice culture
• Bronze Age Britain
• Armorican Tumulus culture
• Polada culture
• Pyrenean Bronze
• Ottomány culture
• Wietenberg culture
• Tumulus culture
• Nordic Bronze Age