A prehistoric stone or metal tool shaped like a chisel or ax, used by ancient peoples for hunting and farming; also, a member of the Celtic peoples.
From Latin celta, possibly derived from Celtic languages themselves, referring to ancient cutting tools. Archaeologists adopted this term in the 19th century when classifying stone age and bronze age artifacts found across Europe.
Archaeologists literally named these tools after the Celts because similar tools were found in Celtic areas, but modern scholars aren't entirely sure if this connection was accurate—it's a perfect example of how early guesses about history can stick around for 200 years!
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