British history IX

Iron Age

The Celtic influence 800 BC

The first references to a Celtic people are by Greek ethnographers in the fifth century BC who described them as a major ethnic group in Central and Western Europe. Contact between those people described as Celts and the inhabitants of Britain through trade, immigration and inter-marriage led to the spread of a Celtic language into Britain. These immigrants are thought to have named Britain 'Albion'.

In the past, historians have sought to define a cohesive Celtic culture based on the curvilinear artistic style found on archaeological objects excavated at La Tene in Switzerland. Traditionally, archaeologists and historians have assumed that this material culture existed wherever Celtic-speaking people existed. However, there is little archaeological evidence to support this link.

Many historians and archaeologists would now describe Celts as one of a number of ethnic groups existing in early Europe and would seek to emphasise the spread of a Celtic language - a language used by amongst others, the Gauls and the Belgae.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/britain/iron_celtic.shtml