48. Prehistoric Britain. Celtic words in Modern English

The first records about Britain were made by Greek. “massaliote Periplus” was merchan’ts book which describes sea routes used by traders which is now lost (used by Albion 550 BC).

A great navigator Pyhtias sailed around Britain in c 300 BC. He named the country and people “Pretannic Isles” probably from the Celtic word “pretany” – people who paint themselves.

Prehistoric Britain is the period between the arrival of 1^st human and the start of the recorded history of Britain which began in 43 AD that is with the Roman invasion.

About 3000 BC the Iberians, long skulls crossed the channel from Europe and settles in Britain. They came and brought their mental-working skills and 1^st real civilization to Britain. They were small and dark and long-headed and may be the forefathers of native inhabitants of Cornwell and Wales. They built large wood, soil, and stone monuments (Stonehengde). Most scholars agreed that it was a secret place.

After 2400 BC new group of people – Beaker Folk/ Bell beaker people – reached Britain coming from Europe. Scientists believe that they were of Iberian origin and they got their name from the distinctive bell-shaped pottery, that accomplished their burial places. They are noted for their bronze tools and by military and metalworking skills, the appearance of these people gave rise to so-called Wessex culture, the name given to a number of very rich grave goods. Iron age in Britain was populates by a diverse collection of population of similar culture, which were influenced by Celts from Europe. The 1^st evidence of Celtic style swords dates back around 600 BC. The word “celt” is derived from “Keltoi” – the name given to this people by Herodotus and other Greek writers. Tribes of Picts and scotts settled in the mountains in the north. The pict (or painted ones) was probably Roman nickname for Caledonian tribe. The origin of picts is uncertain. Some scientists believe that they were descendants of pre-celtic aborigines. But there is some linguistic evidence that they spoke celtic language. The Scots (Scottias) were Irish triber undoubtedly of Celtic origin. The name “Scottias” is a British word probably meaning “raider”. The word Britain once used to denote Celtic tribe now refers to people inhabiting Britain before Anglo-Saxon invasion.

Greeks were the 1^st to mention Celts. They were tall, wore moustaches (not beard), lived in tribes, cultivated crops, kept large herds of cattle and were acquainted with copper, iron.

Celts were good traders and trade was important for social and political content between the tribes. There were 3 classes of people in Celtic times: 1) noblemen and warriors, 2) druids, 3) ordinary people.

Women had more independence than they had hundreds of years later. When Romans invaded Britain, 2 of the largest Celtic tribes were ruled by women. The most powerful woman was Boadicca. She became the queen, when her husband died. In 61 AD she led her tribe against the Romans and nearly managed to drive Romans from Britain, destroyed London before she was defeated and killed. The most honorable was class of druids. They were learned people who underwent 20 years of studies. They were specialized in astronomy, law, poetry, religion, music. Celts believed in immortality and religious rituals were important for them. Human sacrifices often were part of the ceremonies. The influence of Celtic upon English is slight. Few Celtic words have lived in modern english. Many of them are place names. Celtic elements include:

• Aber - mouth of a river – Aberdun

• Coombe – a deep valley – Coombe

• Glen – a narrow valley – Raven’s Craig Glen

• Pen/beinn (ben) – a hill – Ben Nevis

• Tor – for hilltop – Helman Tor

• Crag – a jutting rock

• Thames – “dark river”

• Avon – from abone – “river”

• Esk – British word “Isca” = water

• Axe, Exe, Usk – rivers

In prehistoric times Britain was joined to the rest of the continent. The first human inhabitants of Britain, and many of its animal inhabitants, came there over dry land.

Towards the end of the Ice Age the mighty prehistoric river, which joined the presentday thames with the rhine, overwhelmed the land joining Britain to the Continent and formed the present English channel. In the period immediately after its formation the Channel was too stormy and full of strong currents to allow access to Britain by the narest overseas route. The hunters of the Neolithic Age (New Stone Age) crossed the sea to britain to the west of the Channel and settled along the western shores in their search for food. They found a country practically covered with virgin forest of oak and ash and swamps, escept where the higher ground of the hills rose above the forest.

The 1^st inhabitants of the island for whom a traditional name exists are the Iberians, who probably from the basis of the present-day population in Western England, Wales, North and Western Scotland and Ireland. This race is supposed to have arrived in Britain from the region of the Mediterranean and inhabited it between 3000 and 2000 BC.

Soon after 2000 BC a new race of Apline stock came from the east of Europe. They entered the country, this time from the south-east and east. From their characteristic pottery found in their graves they are known as the Beaker Folk. The race was certainly familiar with the use and working of bronze. The 2 peoples were closely related in culture and the newcomers spread along the east coast. Although a certain level of civilization was reached in the Early and Middle Bronze Ages, it was spread over only a small part of Britain. The ancient people, who gradually merged together, left behind impressive monuments, connected with religious rites at Stonehenge, Avebury and other sites. The name “Stonehenge” comes from the old English “Hengan”, meaning hanging stones.

Soon after 700 BC Britain was invaded by the Celts, who are supposed to have come from central Europe. A commonly accepted theory of their invasions is that they came in 3 distinct waves. The first group was called the Goidels or Gaels. These 1^st Celts were driven by later invaders into the less fertile and more mountainous western and northern regions. The original language of Ireland and of north-west Scotland in thus Gaelic. The 2^nd wave of Celtic tribes, the Brythonic Celts or Brythons, from whose name is derived the word Britain, arrived in England between 600 and 500 BC and settles in the South of England, in Wales and in North-West England and South-West Scotland. Their language developed into the Celtic language of modern wales.

A 3^rd wave of invaders, containing many people of Teutonic origin, arrived about 100 BC and occupied the greater part of what are now known as the Home Countrie (the central part of Great Britain).

The earliest Celts were in the bronze stage of development, but later Celtic invaders brought with them a knowledge of iron working. Trade, industry and agriculture flourished, as did sheep and cattle raising. The tribal form of government prevailed.