Britain before the Romans

Abstract

Much of Britain saw significant changes in the later part of the first millennium bc, particularly in the south-east. Widespread but regionally varied changes in settlement organization resulted in the emergence of new types of sites, some of which have been termed oppida. Changes included the reappearance of gold, the adoption of wheel-turned pottery, new styles of clothes fastening, and cremation burial from Late La Tène Gaul. The burial tradition included a small number of richly furnished burials. Imports of Roman origin were transmitted through Gaulish intermediaries. After Caesar’s expeditions to Britain, the influence of Rome was much more marked and imports increased. Contacts between Britain and Rome may have included formal recognition of some rulers as client kings. Evidence suggests a limited knowledge of literacy and Latin, but the cultural significance of many Roman objects is often unclear.

The Origin of Romano-British Glass Bangles: Forgotten Artefacts from the Late Pre-Roman Iron Age

“…(© Vindolanda Trust) 4 Price 1988, 353;conversely, Kilbride-Jones 1938 suggests that glass bangles first appeared in southern Scotland; the latter has been challenged by Stevenson 1953-55; 5 Creighton 2006;Haselgrove and Moore 2007a;Champion 2016; Wallace 2016; Pitts 2019. The proposition also contributes to a recurring plea from scholars (e.g.…”

THE ORIGINS OF BRITISH OPPIDA: UNDERSTANDING TRANSFORMATION IN IRON AGE PRACTICE AND SOCIETY

“…Despite changing interpretations, oppida in Britain have retained their role in understanding this period of dramatic social change (e.g. Cunliffe 2005;Creighton 2006;Haselgrove 2007;Hill 2007;Barrett et al 2012;Champion 2016) and thus can be considered one of the most significant developments of the Late Iron Age.…”

Landscape, Monumentality and Expression of Group Identities in Iron Age and Roman East Kent

“…18 He further suggests that Canterbury may have been chosen as the civitas centre by the Roman administration 'because the religious centre was a neutral meeting point where different tribal groups came together'. 19 Although the Roman administration and authors of our textual sources grouped the people of Kent together as the 12 For LPRIA changes in the South-Eastfor example, coin minting and use, changing burial behaviour, emerging centres of social focus, and adoption of new material culturesee Champion 2016;Cunliffe 2005, 125-77. For this transformation beyond Kent seen through a range of evidence, see Creighton 2000;2006;Wallace 2016.…”

“… 12 For LPRIA changes in the South-East — for example, coin minting and use, changing burial behaviour, emerging centres of social focus, and adoption of new material culture — see Champion 2016; Cunliffe 2005, 125–77. For this transformation beyond Kent seen through a range of evidence, see Creighton 2000; 2006; Wallace 2016.…”