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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bluenose" data-source="post: 5588303" data-attributes="member: 49017">Starting here, it seems apparent that this is a settled people. If they regularly move their village, some of what I'm suggesting won't apply. Also, <a href="http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/blueroom/demog.htm" target="_blank">here </a>is a site which might give you better answers that I can, though it is dealing on a larger scale. Still, taking the low end estimate for population density, not unreasonable for the region you describe, the clan needs around 11 square miles to support itself.  Most of what they eat is going to be from agriculture. They'll have fields, likely up on the plateau, which may or may not be worked communally. There's probably pasture somewhere for the clan's animals.  Likely every family-group has it's own fields, growing particular specialised crops, and a few chickens or other small animals that don't need large amounts of space.  One unsuccessful hunt won't hurt a family's food supply. Now, it's likely there are communal hunts to gather as much as possible to preserve for the winter season, and if those are a major failure for some reason then the clan is likely to face hard times.   Which group of Celts? Which group of Indians? There are significant differences. At least the ancient Irish I can answer. The structure has leader, (druid), warrior, freeman, serf. Communal agriculture, mostly done by the lower classes, with a central food store in which msot of the grain would be stored after harvest. Lots of cattle (cattle-raiding being a popular sport), owned by individuals, motsly providing milk/cheese with older animals being slaughtered either to eat immediately or in the autumn because they're not worth keeping through the winter and can be salted to preserve them. Archaeology suggests most families had their own storage pots for beans/peas, kept in or under their home, but that cereals were pretty much a communal thing. So you could always get your porridge from the village granary. And note that since owning cattle is prestigious, people often pay for things in cows - a cow being worth about the same as five female serfs.  Most likely they shrug and go without meat that particular day.  Barter, most likely. If someone needs some nails, they likely go to the smith who makes some. They then owe him something of equivalent value. Perhaps they offer him a chicken, or some of the meat next time they slaughter a cow or have a successful hunt, or someone has to work for him for a couple of days... There are lots of possiblities.  If it's a hunt of his own, then he likely shares it with his family. If it's a group hunt then it likely goes to the clan, since they'll need/want some reserves of food. Unless he's quite exceptionally good at hunting he'll be bartering with people for what he wants/needs, either getting something now or a promise of something in the future. Even if tey make something he doesn't want, he might take it in trade since someone else probably does. Or of course he might be hunting because he's already made the promise. Now, if someone is exceptionally good at hunting it's possible people might pay him to take others with him and teach them his tricks. That's likely to make his like easier, since people will rely on his word when he wants things.    Barter. And he probably gets the ore himself, since he likely knows where the reachable deposits are. If he has to trade for it, that's going to be more of a problem. It's likely that he has to charge more for all his services, so he can afford to trade.  Personal wealth is perfectly well recognised in clan societies. It is worth noting that most put expectations on the more specialised members of society. If the smith is refusing to provide things at a reasonable price, he likely finds people demanding more off him every time he wants something.  Hope this gives you some useful ideas.</blockquote>

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