A Sense Of Place

Before we begin it should be noted that archaeological remains in the British Isles from before about 500 BC are not Celtic, but from pre-Celtic culture. These remains include Stonehenge, Newgrange, Avebury, Rollright, East and West Kennet and other important megalithic or mound sites, and the many long barrows or burial chambers (the county of Wiltshire contains over half of Britains 260 long barrows, however one, Wayland's Smithy, is situated just outside Wiltshire in Oxfordshire, on the Ridgeway near the Uffington White Horse). However, it is very probable that these pre-Celtic culture influenced later Celtic cultures in the British Isles, thus we are giving mention to what we consider to be the most important of these various structures, or as the title of the next page states, Shapes On The Landscape, as a preamble for what is to come, a general, non-academic look at just who The Celts were, with some help from, among others, Peter Beresford Ellis, whose book, The Celtic Empire (a mischevious title, to quote PBE, for there never was a true "Celtic Empire") has become a must read in many circles (pun intended). The book is a history for the general reader, and we think that very well describes this website as a whole.