The Britons: Age of Iron
Far away, beyond the dominions of the Celtae and the ferocious streams of encircling Oceanus, lie the islands of the Britons, famed in the histories of the Romans. There they were best-known for painting themselves blue and for the promiscuity of their marriages, whatever the truth of these matters; they were renowned also for the skill of their charioteers, coveted for the precious tin to be found on their island, and notorious for the human sacrifices of their druids. To the scattered written accounts we can supplement the evidence of material culture and ancient landscape use supplied by archaeology, and the interpretation of scholars. This article will attempt to draw together these diverse strands to present a full and accurate picture of the world of Britain before Rome.