The document summarizes information about the Celts who lived in Britain and Ireland during the Iron Age. It describes how archaeologists have learned about Celtic culture from accidental discoveries like a body found with food still in its stomach. The Celts lived in roundhouses and hillfort settlements for protection. They farmed, traded goods, and the men trained as warriors, using weapons like swords, spears, and chariots. Celtic religion involved belief in gods and the otherworld, and druids held important religious and social roles. The coming of the Romans would drastically change Celtic life on the islands.

1. The Celts
The First People on the Islands…

2. The name 'Iron Age' comes from the
discovery of a new metal called iron.

3. Celtic Tribes in Britain and Ireland

4. How do we know information about
the Celts? Archaeologists are
always trying to find
evidence but
sometimes it gets
found accidently.
Some workmen came
across a body. The
man had been killed
2000 years ago – they
still found food in his
stomach! His last meal
was bread.

5. The Celts
The Celts lived across
most of Europe during
the Iron Age.
People had lived in
Britain for thousands
of years before the
Romans arrived.
The Celts lived in
roundhouses with
thatched roofs of straw
or heather (plant that
grows on the hills of
northern Britain). In
places where there
were plenty of trees
the walls were made
out of wattle and daub
(hazel trees with clay
and straw).

6. In the North of Britain
they used large stones
and clay to make the
walls.
This is a roundhouse
being built. There are
poles to hold up the
thatched roof.
The settlements are
protected by a stone
wall with wood.

8. The settlements
Families lived together
in settlements:
children, parents,
grandparents, aunts,
uncles and cousins.
The roundhouses were
built in groups. The
walls protected them
from wolves and wild
boar.
Sometimes groups of
houses were built on
the top of hills. These
were called hill-forts.

9. For defensive purposes, the Celtic
village was sometimes made part of a
hill fort.

10. Celts and personality
• Emotional, passionate, heroic, wild, and
drunken
 Sensual, artistic, hospitable, instinctual
 Proud, inventive, battle-loving
 They were farmers and traders and also did
some agriculture
 They traded metals, salt, pottery, glass and
coin ornaments

11. However, there was always the constant danger of
warfare with another tribe. Therefore, Celtic men were
trained as warriors.

12. Their basic weapons were the shield and
the long sword

13. They also had cavalry, who could carry multiple
spears. But, they were best known for their skill
with the chariot.

14. Religion
 Believed in the “otherworld”
 Believed in many Gods (pagans)

15. Sacrifice
 In battle they would cut peoples heads off and
carry it around. They were trophies to them,
which symbolized courage and bravery.

16. Druids
They were members of the learned/knowledgeable
class among the ancient Celts.
 They could stop a battle.
 Responsibilities included: teaching the religious doctrine, medicine,
civil justice, sacrifice, divination, and care of temples.
 To become a druid, school would take up to 20 years because it all had
to be memorized
 They performed animal and human sacrifices and practiced divination
and other forms of magic

17. The Celts were happy on their island home. But,
everything was about to change with the coming
of the Romans…