View source for Celtic Britain

[[File:Celtic-knot-insquare-39crossings.svg|200px|right|Celtic-knot-insquare-39crossings]]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts '''Celts'''] is a modern English word used to describe the many tribes occupying central Europe during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Iron_Age '''Iron Age'''] ''(i.e. 800 BC until the arrival of '''[[The Romans]]''' AD 43)''. The two main tribes who settled in Britain were the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaels '''Gaels'''], who settled in Scotland, Isle of Man and Ireland, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Britons '''Britons'''], who lived mainly in Wales and Cornwall.


The Celtic tribes believed in Gods associated with nature and their priests were called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid '''Druids''']. They made sacrifices to their 400 or more Gods by throwing offerings into the lakes and rivers where they believed the Gods lived. They believed in life after death and so were often buried with possessions they would need in the afterlife ''(e.g. helmet, sword and shield)''.


A most famous '''Celt''' was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudica '''Boudicca'''], a queen of the British [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceni '''Iceni'''] tribe, who is often pictured on her Chariot inspiring the large army she had gathered together. She led rebellions against the invading '''[[The Romans|Roman]]''' armies until she was defeated at what later became known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Watling_Street '''Battle of Watling Street'''].
[[File:Roundhouse (dwelling) Celtic Wales.jpeg|300px|right|Roundhouse (dwelling) Celtic Wales]]


The '''Celts''' did not build towns and cities but most lived in scattered farming communities. Some communities were built as a collection of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundhouse_(dwelling) '''Roundhouses'''] on hill tops as Hill-Forts surrounded by ditches and ramparts for protection. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundhouse_(dwelling) '''Roundhouses'''] had thatched roofs and walls made of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wattle_and_daub '''Wattle and Daub'''] or stone dependent on the availability of timber locally.


[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_knot '''Celtic Knots'''] were a central feature of '''Celtic''' art in the late Roman Empire before the Christian influence on the Celts, which began around 450 AD. The knot patterns were adapted and used to decorate Christian monuments and manuscripts.


Soap is believed to have been invented originally by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia '''The Babylonians'''] but the work '''''Soap''''' is derived from the Celtic word '''''Saipo''''' and the '''Celts''' were also familiar with its production and use. Making soap requires mixing animal fat, or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallow '''Tallow'''], with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lye '''Lye'''], a strong caustic solution created by soaking the ashes from a hardwood log fire with rainwater.


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