The early Celts, shrouded in mystery, left behind a legacy that continues to fascinate historians and enthusiasts alike. Referred to as Keltoi, Keltai, or Galatai by the Greeks, and Celti, Celtae, or Galli by the Romans, these ancient peoples have intrigued civilizations for millennia. While they may not have extensively documented their own history in writing, the echoes of their existence resonate through classical texts, archaeological discoveries, and most notably, in the vibrant cultures of modern Celtic nations like Wales. Understanding Where Are Wales fits within this Celtic tapestry requires a journey through history, language, and cultural identity.
Classical authors, particularly the Romans, offer some of the earliest glimpses into the world of the Celts. As the Roman Empire expanded, it inevitably encountered Celtic tribes along its northern frontiers. These Roman accounts, though invaluable, are often fragmented and colored by the Roman perspective. They provide snapshots rather than comprehensive portraits, leaving many questions about the Celts unanswered. Despite these limitations, these historical fragments, alongside linguistic and archaeological evidence, help us piece together the story of the Celts and their enduring connection to regions like Wales.
It is widely accepted that the Celts were not a unified empire but rather a collection of distinct tribes scattered across Europe. Despite their tribal divisions, they shared common threads: similar cultures, traditions, religious beliefs, and linguistic roots. This shared heritage is what binds them together under the umbrella term “Celts,” a name used today to describe these diverse Iron Age peoples, including those who shaped the history and identity of Wales.
What Did the Celts Call Themselves?
Interestingly, the name “Celts” is a modern designation. We lack definitive knowledge of what these people called themselves collectively. The term “Celts” itself is a contemporary label applied to the various tribes who flourished during the Iron Age. Classical texts from antiquity rarely, if ever, referred to the inhabitants of Britain and Ireland as Celts. Instead, these peoples were typically identified by their specific tribal or societal names, highlighting their decentralized nature rather than a unified national identity. Therefore, when we speak of “Celts,” it’s crucial to remember we are using a modern term to encompass a diverse group of people with shared cultural and linguistic ancestry, many of whom contributed to the rich tapestry of Welsh history.
Where Did the Celts Come From?
A map showing the possible migration routes of Celtic peoples from Central Europe to Western Europe and the British Isles, highlighting the Danube River region and their expansion.
Early historical accounts and archaeological findings suggest that the Celts originated in Central Europe. Ancient sources pinpoint their presence in Western Europe and lands near the headwaters of the Danube River. Their core territories are often traced back to regions encompassing central and eastern France, extending across southern Germany, and into the Czech Republic. This geographical area is considered the heartland from which Celtic cultures and peoples radiated outwards.
Historical records document the Celts’ expansive reach. In 279 BC, they famously sacked Delphi, a revered Greek sanctuary, demonstrating their military prowess and far-reaching influence. Strabo, the Greek geographer, recounted a meeting between Celts and Alexander the Great in the Balkans around 335 BC, further illustrating their presence across a vast geographical area. Classical writers described significant Celtic migrations around 400 BC, which propelled them from Central Europe into Northern Italy and Eastern Europe. These movements underscore the dynamic nature of Celtic societies and their widespread impact across ancient Europe.
Celts in Britain
The arrival of Celts in Britain is believed to have occurred around 1000 BC, marking the beginning of a continuous Celtic presence through the Iron Age, Roman era, and post-Roman period. Their influence has been profound and enduring, with remnants of their language, culture, and traditions still evident in Britain today. This long history underscores the deep roots of Celtic heritage within the British Isles and its lasting impact on the cultural landscape.
Welsh Celts
Wales stands as a modern Celtic nation, where Welsh Celtic identity is not only widely recognized but also forms a cornerstone of contemporary national identity. However, during the early centuries BC and AD, Roman records identified specific tribes and leaders in the region rather than a unified “Welsh” entity. By the time of the Roman invasion of Britain, four distinct tribal peoples inhabited areas corresponding to modern-day Wales: the Ordovices in the north-west, the Deceangli in the north-east, the Demetae in the south-west, and the Silures in the south-east. Understanding where are Wales within the Celtic world requires tracing the evolution of Celtic linguistic studies.
The association of Celts with Wales largely stems from the historical development of Celtic linguistics, the study of Celtic languages. As scholars began to analyze language families, they identified a clear linguistic link between the ancient languages spoken in Wales and those associated with the Celts of continental Europe. This linguistic connection became a primary basis for categorizing the ancient inhabitants of Wales as Celts.
What Languages Did the Celts Speak?
A language tree illustrating the relationship between Proto-Indo-European, Proto-Celtic, and modern Celtic languages including Welsh, Irish, Scots Gaelic, and Breton.
Tracing the origins of Celtic languages is a complex undertaking. Most linguists agree that they evolved from a more ancient language known as ‘Proto-Indo-European’. This ancestral language likely spread into Western Europe through population movements, potentially originating from Central Asia between 6000 and 2000 BC. The precise timing and mechanisms of this linguistic development, and the subsequent emergence of distinct Celtic languages, remain subjects of ongoing scholarly debate.
Current linguistic understanding places the genesis of Celtic languages sometime between 6000 and 600 BC. The oldest known inscriptions in a Celtic language have been discovered in Northern Italy and date back to the 6th century BC. George Buchanan, a 16th-century scholar, proposed that the peoples of continental Europe once spoke a related group of Gallic languages. He noted the similarities between these ancient languages and modern Welsh, Irish, and Scots Gaelic, suggesting that the people of Britain originally migrated from regions like France and Spain.
In a groundbreaking study in 1707, Edward Lhuyd identified two major branches of Celtic languages: P-Celtic or Brythonic (Welsh, Breton, Cornish) and Q-Celtic or Goidelic (Irish, Scots Gaelic, Manx). The Brythonic languages were hypothesized to have originated from Gaul (France), while the Goidelic languages were attributed to an Iberian (Spain, Portugal) origin. This linguistic division further solidified the understanding of Celtic languages as a distinct family with internal branches.
During the 18th century, the link between language and identity became increasingly prominent. People who spoke Celtic languages were increasingly identified as Celts. Consequently, the ancient inhabitants of Wales, with their Brythonic Welsh language, became firmly established as part of the Celtic world. The very language spoken in Wales is a testament to its enduring Celtic heritage and its place within the broader Celtic family of nations.
Celtic Languages Today
Welsh, the native language of Wales (known as Cymru in Welsh), is a vibrant Celtic language still widely spoken in Wales and by Welsh communities around the world. Cornish, though spoken by a much smaller number in Cornwall, shares linguistic roots with Welsh and Breton, highlighting the interconnectedness of Brythonic Celtic languages.
In Scotland, Scots Gaelic, another Celtic language, is also spoken, though with fewer speakers than Welsh. The presence of BBC Alba, the BBC’s Gaelic-language television channel in Scotland, demonstrates the continued cultural significance of Gaelic. Furthermore, the bagpipes, a renowned musical instrument associated with Scotland, trace their origins back to Celtic times, illustrating the deep historical and cultural connections within the Celtic world.
What Did the Celts Look Like?
A depiction of Celtic warriors based on Roman descriptions, showcasing their brightly colored clothing, and some with blue woad body paint.
Roman literature offers glimpses into the appearance of the Celts. They were described as wearing brightly colored clothing. Some accounts mention the use of blue dye derived from the woad plant to create patterns on their bodies, suggesting a practice of body painting or tattooing for adornment or possibly ritualistic purposes. These descriptions provide valuable, though limited, insights into Celtic aesthetics and personal presentation.
What Did the Celts Wear?
The Celts are known for their colorful wool clothing and, in later periods, the Scottish Tartan. Clothing served as a marker of status and importance within Celtic tribes. Typical Celtic attire included a tunic and belt, often accompanied by a long cloak and trousers fastened with a ‘fibulae,’ a type of clasp or brooch. The quality and ornamentation of these garments would have reflected the wearer’s social standing.
Notably, historians have pointed out that the Celts were among the first people in Europe to adopt trousers. The ‘fibulae’ were essential fasteners used to secure these trousers, highlighting an early example of tailored clothing in European history and distinguishing Celtic fashion from that of some of their contemporaries.
What Did the Celts Eat?
In the absence of supermarkets, the Celts relied on their resourcefulness to obtain food. They cultivated their own crops, practiced farming, and hunted animals. Their diet was diverse and seasonally influenced, reflecting their close relationship with the natural environment.
Celtic cuisine included wild foods such as mushrooms, berries, nettles, wild garlic, and apples. They also cultivated vegetables like spinach, onions, leeks, carrots, and parsnips, along with fruits such as blackberries, gooseberries, and blueberries. Hazelnuts and walnuts, as well as grains for bread and porridge, were also staples in their diet, providing essential carbohydrates and nutrients.
For protein, the Celts hunted wild animals such as deer, foxes, beavers, wild boars, and bears. They also domesticated animals, including chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle, for meat, milk, and other products. Fishing for salmon, trout, and mackerel supplemented their diet with aquatic resources. Eggs from hens and wild birds, insects, and honey from bees further enriched their food sources. This varied diet demonstrates the Celts’ adaptability and ability to thrive by utilizing a wide range of available resources.
For deeper insights into the Iron Age Celtic diet, resources like the “Daily Life of the Celts” learning material from Museum Wales offer further exploration.
Celtic Art and Archaeology
Examples of La Tène style Celtic art, showcasing intricate patterns and designs on metalwork, from the La Tène culture archaeological site.
The emergence of a distinctive art style during the 5th century BC, which subsequently spread across much of Europe, has often been interpreted by archaeologists as evidence of a shared Celtic culture or identity. This art, characterized by its intricate and often abstract designs, provides tangible links between geographically dispersed Celtic groups.
Celtic art was formally recognized and named by British scholars in the mid-19th century. However, it wasn’t until 1910-14 that researchers traced the earliest artifacts displaying this style to a common cultural region encompassing north-east France, southern Germany, and the Czech Republic. This region is considered the birthplace of what is now known as Celtic art.
This artistic style was named the La Tène culture, after a significant collection of decorated metalwork discovered at La Tène, a site on the edge of Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland. The widespread distribution of La Tène or Celtic art across Europe, including Britain and Ireland, was initially interpreted as evidence of Celtic invasions, suggesting that the art was spread through migration and conquest.
More recently, British archaeologists have increasingly questioned the invasion theory and the concept of a homogenous ‘Celtic’ society with uniform language, art, religious beliefs, and identity. Archaeological evidence in Britain provides limited support for large-scale migrations of new peoples from the Continent.
The archaeological record of the Iron Age in Britain points towards a more nuanced picture: a mosaic of regional societies, each with its own distinct identity. This perspective challenges the notion of a unified Celtic culture and suggests a more complex interaction of local developments and external influences.
Archaeologists have also become more critical of their own interpretations of Iron Age sites. The presence of La Tène art in Wales, for example, does not necessarily indicate invading Celts. It could equally reflect the diffusion of artistic styles across different societies through trade, cultural exchange, or the adoption of fashionable trends. Conversely, it’s now recognized that much of the later La Tène art found in Britain exhibits distinctive British stylistic elements and is largely absent in Continental Europe, indicating regional artistic developments.
The concept of the Celts has been a subject of ongoing debate among scholars, a discussion that is likely to continue as new evidence emerges and research methods evolve. Future genetic studies of ancient and modern human DNA may offer further insights into our understanding of Celtic origins and migrations. However, early genetic studies in this field have been criticized for drawing potentially unreliable conclusions based on limited sample sizes and outdated linguistic and archaeological assumptions. The story of the Celts, and where are Wales within that story, remains a dynamic and evolving field of study.
Background Reading
Exploring the World of the Celts by S. James. Published by Thames & Hudson (1993).
The Celts: Origins, Myths and Inventions by J. Collis. Tempus Publishing Ltd (2003).
The Ancient Celts by B. Cunliffe. Oxford University Press (1997).
