Boadicea, also known as Boudica, was a queen of the Iceni tribe, a Celtic tribe that lived in what is now Eastern England.
Category: Tribes
Jun 23
Iceni
The Iceni tribe, known in Latin as Icēnī, was a powerful and significant group during the Iron Age and early Roman era in what is now eastern Britain.
The Brigantes of Lancashire
An interesting heading in Robert Morden’s map of Lancashire (1695) places “The Brigantes” in Lancashire. Worth investigating to try to understand exactly what Robert Morden was trying to portray here.
Sep 24
Demetae
The Demetae Location of the tribe The south eaat coast of Wales Principal towns and settlements in Demetae territory Moridunum – (Carmarthen, Dyfed) – Possibly the site of a Flavian fort. The only polis attributed to the tribe by Ptolemy, the location of this settlement was also known as Muridunum. The civitas capital may have …
Sep 24
The Celts in Battle
CELTS IN BATTLE Polybius, who lived between about 202 and 120 BC, gives a full account of how the Celts fought at the battle of Telamon in 225 BC; it is worth quoting at length because it highlights several recurring characteristics: ‘The Celts had drawn up the Gaesatae from the Alps to face their enemies …
Sep 24
Establishment of the Tribes
The establishment of the tribes Introduction Tacitus Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives or immigrants, remains obscure; one must remember we are dealing with barbarians. The way in which the individual tribes developed is not known. The Celtic langauge and its dialects did not have a written form, so the recording o …
Sep 24
The Celts and Celtic Life
The Celts and Celtic life Introduction Before looking at the Roman invasions, it is important to set the scene and get a picture of life in Britain in the first century BC, which was a time when the country was divided into regions, each occupied by a tribe. Britain was well into the Iron Age. …
Sep 24
Background – The Celts
The Celts (Greek ‘Keltoi’) were an Indo-European people originating in the Alps. Their first known territory was in Central Europe around 1200 BC in the upper Danube, the Alps and parts of France and southern Germany.
Sep 23
Trinovantes
The Trinovantes Background to the Trinovantes Location of the tribe Essex and part of Suffolk. Background information It is possible that the Trinovantes were one of only two British tribes knew of Caesar’s intentions to cross the channel to Britain and so sent out ambassadors to the Romans in Gaul in an attempt to ensure …
Sep 23
Silures
Silures Tacitus describes the Silures as a strong and warlike tribe, stubborn, with swarthy faces and curly hair. They inhabited the wooded uplands of southeastern Wales, living in hillforts and fortified settlements, and were Rome’s most determined opponents. That resistance was led by Caratacus, a British chieftan who had sought refuge with the Silures after …
PAS North Yorkshire
- YORYM-0FA1DC COIN EARLY MEDIEVAL 23 January 2025An incomplete Early Medieval (Anglo-Scandinavian) silver penny in the name of St Peter dating to the period c.AD 905 - 910. Two-line horizontal type. Cross pattee reverse. Mint of York.North Vol. 1, p.116, no.551.
- NLM-0DD0C5 BROOCH ROMAN 23 January 2025Copper alloy and iron brooch. Cast headstud brooch, Headstud 6, cf.Mackreth 2011 Pl. 73 no. 11868. A tubular case for an iron axis bar which formerly retained a hinged pin is masked by short wings with two vertically Mackreth typeincised lines on the front of each and surmounted by an integrally cast loop. The wings […]
- NLM-0DA5F4 BROOCH ROMAN 22 January 2025Copper alloy brooch. Cast bow and fantail brooch, Mackreth type undetermined [his CD H 6 includes fantails but none patterned as appears here]. Almost-plain tubular wings – the only decoration is a possibly incised line wandering up the front of each wing to the crest of the bow - clenched behind retain an axis bar […]
- NLM-0D887F COIN ROMAN 22 January 2025Copper alloy coin fragment. A scrap – perhaps one third – of a nummus of the House of Constantine (306-361), Gloria Exercitus issue of 335-341, Reece period 17.Obverse description: [bust] corrodedReverse description: two soldiers with one standard between themReverse inscription: (GLOR) IA E(XERC ITVS]Diameter (in excess of): 13.8mm, Weight: 0.79gms
- NLM-0D6D65 GAMING PIECE EARLY MEDIEVAL 22 January 2025Lead probable game piece. A cast object of slightly conical form with flat ends; the smaller bears an incised saltire or cross, here presumed to be the top. Patinated overall. This may relate to those game pieces of castellated form, which may thus have been distinguished from others. This might be required for the King […]
PAS West Yorkshire
- WAW-51F99E AMPULLA MEDIEVAL 15 January 2025An almost complete cast lead or lead alloy pilgrims ampulla dating from the medieval period; circa late 13th - late 15th century (AD 1250-1500).The ampulla has a circular (scallop) shaped body with a narrowed neck. On the right-hand side of the object situated on the neck is a flattened semi-circular loop. There are the remains of […]
- YORYM-D7E2BA BUCKLE MEDIEVAL 14 January 2025A complete copper-alloy buckle of medieval date, c.AD 1250-1500. Meols Type 2.The buckle is a single looped D-shape with a widened frame and a narrowed and offset bar. A wire pin remains fitted around the bar by an open loop.The metal has a dark brown patina and is in a worn condition. The buckle is 14.61mm […]
PAS South Yorkshire
- NMGW-C31C53 CHARIOT FITTING IRON AGE 24 January 2025Addendum to an Iron Age sacred lake assemblage: a Late Iron Age bridle-bit and terret (50 BC - AD 75)1. Two-link bridle-bit, Polden Hill Subtype, bronze, complete Dimensions: maximum length 238.0mm; external rein-ring diameters (1)73.8-74.0mm & (2) 73.5-74.7mm; internal rein-ring diameters (1) 55.6mm & (2) 56.3mm; thickness rein rings – side to side (1) 8.3-9.0mm & […]
- YORYM-FEC06B AMPULLA MEDIEVAL 22 January 2025An incomplete lead-alloy pilgrim's ampulla of medieval date, c.AD 1350 - 1550.Only part of the body of the ampulla remains which is semi-circular with a worn break to the upper edge from which the neck would have extended. One side of the object is decorated with an eight-petalled 'compass-drawn' flower. The other side is too […]
