| As much as the Celts enjoyed fighting, they were | | | | bindings from a shield, and bones from a joint of |
| only too happy to have a champion engage an | | | | pork to refresh our warrior during the feast in the |
| enemy in single combat. Besides, what better | | | | afterlife. |
| way to spend the morning than with a jug of | | | | The La Tene Celts on the Continent were |
| booze, watching a couple of champions have at it! | | | | improving swords and daggers, and these were |
| Blood letting for blood letting's sake was | | | | copied by the smiths of the Thames Valley. |
| considered rather pointless. | | | | However, they were expensive, and only the |
| However, Caesar was particularly complimentary | | | | wealthy warriors could afford them. Apart from |
| about their skills with the chariot. He tells us that | | | | swords and daggers, the well equipped warrior |
| they begin by "driving all over the field, hurling | | | | carried a spear. A very early example was found |
| javelins, and generally the terror inspired by the | | | | at Llyn Fawr, Glamorgan. |
| horses and the noise of the chariot wheels are | | | | The Celts never took to archery. Slings, however, |
| sufficient to throw the opponents' ranks into | | | | were in general use. Many warriors went into |
| disorder." Then they leap from the chariots and | | | | battle on foot, but some were mounted, this |
| engage on foot. | | | | quite apart from the charioteers. Very interesting |
| The charioteers retire a short distance from the | | | | coins have been found dating from the first |
| battle so that if their masters are hard pressed, | | | | century B.C.E. to the first century C.E. They depict |
| they have an easy retreat to their own lines. | | | | Tasciovanus of the Catuvellauni and Eppillus of the |
| Thus "they combine the mobility of cavalry with | | | | Atribates and figures with boar's head trumpets. |
| the staying power of infantry." He admired the | | | | The mouthpiece of an actual boar's head trumpet |
| way they could control their horses at full gallop, | | | | was found at Deskford, Banff, dating from the |
| even on inclines, turning them at will. "They can | | | | second century C.E. |
| run along the chariot pole, stand on the yoke, and | | | | Regrettably, no chariot has survived from the |
| get back into the chariot as quick as lightening." | | | | Iron Age, although a wheel that was probably |
| Generally, though, the Celts weren't given to | | | | from a chariot was found at Bar Hill on the |
| pitched battles, preferring guerrilla tactics. A fine | | | | Antonine Wall. |
| variety of swords and scabbards surviving from | | | | Torcs played a big part in Celtic personal |
| the Iron Age were found in Standlake, | | | | adornment. The wealthy wore gold, the not so |
| Oxfordshire, and date from the 3rd. or 2nd. | | | | well off wore bronze and even iron. Torcs were |
| century B.C.E. One, a magnificent iron sword, | | | | simply two or more bands of metal twisted |
| unfortunately has its scabbard perished, but its | | | | together. The gold ones were flexible enough to |
| bronze and iron mounts still survive. | | | | be opened, placed around the neck when they |
| A type of sword popular with the Celts was | | | | would spring back. The bronze and iron ones were |
| found in North Grimston, in east Yorkshire. It's a | | | | usually fixed with pegs. |
| burial site, and the warrior was buried with a | | | | As much as the Celts loved warfare, their main |
| second, longer sword, rings from a sword belt, | | | | occupation was farming. |