CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
THE CELTIC BRITONS
UNDER ROME
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Graham Webster
INTRODUCTION
I
t is very difficult to explain the process by which Britain became Celtic. Some
scholars believe in the theory of successive waves of Celtic settlers from Europe.
Others see British 'celticization' as a gradual process, involving European influences
and the adoption of Celtic techniques and customs rather than invasion, other than
in a few very specific and limited instances, exemplified by the 'Arras culture' of
north-east Britain (Collis 1984). The presence of British Celts and their influences
can be traced by their settlements, metalwork and changes in technology. The most
significant of these changes waS the discovery, probably in the Near East, of the
technique of smelting iron from its own ore and its forging into tools and weapons
(see Chapter 17) (Collis 1984: 15, 24, 28-32). By the fourth century Be, these
techniques were well established in south-east Britain with the discovery of suitable
ores from the limestone belt across Northamptonshire into Lincolnshire. This can be
seen from the distribution of currency-bars which were used in trade-exchange
(Allen 1967: 307-35, figs I, 2). It has been assumed that these are the taleis ferreis
mentioned by Caesar (De Bello Gallico V.12.4) as used by the Britons as 'money'
(pro nummo). The Celts were great warriors and seized the opportunity to produce
iron swords which, with tempering, became as fine as modern steel, well surpassing
the earlier bronze weapons. They became master-craftsmen and even supplied the
Roman army with its gladii and longer cavalry swords (spathae).
In the long period of the Iron Age in Britain, there were many changes. These
were due perhaps to some movement of people from Gaul and the development of
trade, especially in fine metalwork (Figure 32.1). The identification of particular
communities can only be made by their burial customs and other religious rites.
These were so deep a part of tribal tradition that changes took place only slowly
over long periods and are not easily detectable. Unfortunately, there is a scarcity of
recognized burials of their period (see Chapter 26).
Convincing evidence of cultural change can perhaps be studied in the appearance
of defended enclosures, usually on hilltops, which is indicative of an unstable soci-
ety (see Chapter 5). The different types and sizes of these enclosures must reflect
changes in relationships between communities and their tribal hierarchies.