|
|
|
|
Caer Lud (London)
Pre-Roman London
The position of Caer Lud (London) on the River Thames is the root of its long history, for better or for worse. The sheltered port is the perfect site for sea trade, connecting into the heart of the land. Two hills on the north bank (Cornhill and Ludgate) give an ideal setting for a city, above the flood plain with easy access to water and other resources of the land. On the other hand, the Thames is a natural borderline that requires constant defense against attacks by raiders coming from the sea or hostile tribes from within the land itself.
From archaeological findings, it is known that the site was an important center for trade even in prehistoric times. The powerful Catevallauni tribe united both the north and south banks before the Romans arrived, but it did not become a truly international city until the construction of Roman roads gave it additional advantage. Recently many archaeological discoveries have shed new light on London's history to reveal that it did not exist as a town before 50 AD. The "city" of London was founded by the Romans, but long before then, small prehistoric settlements existed in the area. The origin of the place-name is debatable. It is definitely pre-Roman and may even date back before the Celts. It could be the name of a person, a god, or a prominent part of the landscape such as a river or a hill. The ancient Celts of this area were divided into tribes whose territories were marked off by the Thames. There were the Trinovantes near Essex, the Catevaellauni to the north, Atrebates in the southwest and Cantiaci to the east. The history of these people was unwritten, kept only in oral traditions, and it comes down to us through historically unreliable filters, mainly the 12th century accounts written by Geoffrey of Monmouth. These accounts are based on a mixture of solid historical sources, nebulous ancient books, some classical authors both Celtic and Saxon, and Geoffrey's own fabrications. Archaeology has proven him as sometimes amazing ly correct at times, other times as pure fantasy. |
Study
|
