Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-02T16:17:36.890Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Aylesford-Swarling Culture: The Problem of the Belgae reconsidered

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2014

Ann Birchall
Ann Birchall
Affiliation:
Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Until the discovery of the Aylesford urnfield seventy-five years ago, the Belgae were still no more than dramatis personae in Caesar's Gallic War. It was Sir Arthur Evans who first identified the users of the Aylesford cemetery with the invaders ex Belgio referred to by Caesar. Reginald Smith's publication of the Welwyn grave-groups (1912) and then Bushe-Fox's excavation of the Swarling urnfield (1925) were followed, in 1930, by Hawkes' and Dunning's account of the history of the British and Continental Belgic tribes, which has remained the standard work on the subject ever since.

Thus, it has been accepted that the archaeological material of Aylesford-Swarling type represents the introduction of Belgic culture into Britain. Its continental origins were traced to northern Gaul, the area occupied by the historical Belgae, where a similar series of cremation burials of Late La Tène date is known. This continental series, thought to mark a change from what seemed to be the universal practice of inhumation as mode of burial to cremation, was interpreted as representative of a fusion of inhuming Galli with cremating Germani from across the Rhine. This fusion, leading to the formation of the Belgae, who, as Caesar records, boasted of their ‘Germanic’ origin, was thought to have taken place in the latter half of the 2nd century B.C. The date for the first Belgic invasion of Britain was put at about 75 B.C.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 31 , December 1965 , pp. 241 - 367
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1965

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Moreau, F.Procès-Verbaux. (Bibliothèque, Musée des Antiquités Nationales, Saint Germain-en-Laye).Google Scholar
Schmit, E.: L'Archéologie et L'Anthropologie Marnaises. (Archives Départementales de la Marne, Châlons-sur-Marne).Google Scholar
Simonnet, L.Notes Archéologiques. (Private Collection).Google Scholar
Allen, D. F., 1958. ‘The Origins of Coinage in Britain: A Reappraisal’, I. of A. Occasional Paper, no. 11, Conference on Problems of the Iron Age in Southern Britain, 97–308.Google Scholar
Bérard, L. and Favret, P.-M., 1913. ‘Cimetière gaulois de Mairy-Sogny’, BSAC, 13–18 and 109–20.Google Scholar
Bianchetti, E., 1895. I Sepolcreti di Ornavasso. Turin.Google Scholar
Birchall, A., 1960. ‘Classement et étude de la Collection Dupuis au Musée des Antiquités Nationales’, AN, 85–7 and pls. 27–41.Google Scholar
Birchall, A., 1964. ‘The Belgic Problem: Aylesford Revisited’, BMQ, XXVIII, 21–9 and pls. viii–x.Google Scholar
Bretz-Mahler, D., 1958. ‘Catalogue des fibules de La Tène I du Musée de Préhistoire d'Épernay’, BSAC, 4–29.Google Scholar
Bretz-Mahler, D., 1961. ‘Musée d'Épernay. Catalogue de la céramique des cimetières de l'époque de La Tène I’. MSACSAM, 7–60.Google Scholar
Brisson, A. etc., 1933. ‘Le cimetière gaulois de Montépreux’, BSAC, 25–30.Google Scholar
Brisson, A., 1935. ‘La nécropole de Corroy: Au-dessus des Roseaux et Saint-Mard’, BSAC, 85–91.Google Scholar
Brisson, A., 1938. ‘Les nécropoles de Gourgançon: Les Poplainnaux’, BSAC, 1–8.Google Scholar
Brisson, A., 1938b. ‘Les nécropoles de Gourgançon: La Corbillére’, BSAC, 13–17.Google Scholar
Brisson, A., 1960. ‘Limites septentrionales des Tricasses’, MSACSAM, 26–30.Google Scholar
Brisson, A. and Hatt, J.-J., 1953. ‘Nécropoles hallstattiennes d'Aulnay-aux-Planches’, RAE, 193–233.Google Scholar
Brisson, A. and Hatt, J.-J., 1955. ‘Cimetières gaulois et gallo-romains à enclos en Champagne. 1. Le cimetière de l'Homme-Mort, à Ecury-le-Repos (Marne)’, RAE, 313–33.Google Scholar
Bushe-Fox, J. P., 1925. ‘Excavations of the Late-Celtic Urnfield at Swarling, Kent’, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, No. V, 1–55.Google Scholar
Clarke, G., 1926. ‘Prehistoric and Roman-British Objects from England in the University Museum of Archaeology and of Ethnology, Cambridge’, Ant. J., VI, 175–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, R. R. and Hawkes, C. F. C., 1955. ‘An Iron Anthropoid Sword from Shouldham, Norfolk with related Continental and British Weapons’, PPS, XXI, 198–227.Google Scholar
Cochet, J. B. D., 1857. Sépultures gauloises, romaines, franques et normandes. Paris.Google Scholar
Cochet, J. B. D., 1864. La Seine-Inférieure historique et archéologique. Paris.Google Scholar
Corcoran, J. X. W. P., 1952. ‘Tankards and Tankard Handles of the British Early Iron Age’, PPS, XVIII, 85–102.Google Scholar
Coutil, L., 1918. L'Epoque gauloise en Normandie. Paris.Google Scholar
Cussans, J. E., 1881. History of Hertfordshire, III.Google Scholar
Dechelette, J., 1914. Manuel d'Archéologie, II, 3. Paris.Google Scholar
Dryden, H. E. L., 1846. ‘Roman and Roman-British Remains at and near Shefford, Beds.’, PCAS, 1, no. 10.Google Scholar
Dupuis, J., 1932. ‘CimetièRes celtiques du lieudit “Le Fer-à-Cheval” territoire de Bétheniville (Marne)’, BSAC, 45–55.Google Scholar
Evans, A. J., 1890. ‘On a Late-Celtic Urnfield at Aylesford, Kent, and on the Gaulish, Illyro-Italic, and Classical Connexions of the Forms of Pottery and Bronze-work there Discovered’, Arch., LII, 317–88.Google Scholar
Fagot, P. and Chevallier, R., 1958. ‘Vestiges de La Tène II découverts par prospection aérienne à Celles-les-Condé (Aisne)’, BSPF, 661–71.Google Scholar
Faider-Feytmans, G., 1947. ‘La nécropole de Péronnes-lez-Binche’, Ant. Class., XVI, 79–104.Google Scholar
Fleury, E., 1877. Antiquités et monuments du département de l'Aisne. Paris.Google Scholar
Fourdrignier, Ed., 1878. Double sépulture gauloise de la Gorge- Meillet; Étude sur les chars gaulois et les casques dans la Marne. Paris and Châlons-sur-Marne.Google Scholar
Fox, C., 1923. The Archaeology of the Cambridge Region. Cambridge.Google Scholar
Fox, C., 1924. ‘A Settlement of the Early Iron Age at Abington Pigotts, Cambs.’, PPSEA, IV, 211–33.Google Scholar
Fox, C., 1958. Pattern and Purpose. Cardiff.Google Scholar
Fox, C. and Hull, M. R. (1948). ‘The Incised Ornament on the Celtic Mirror from Colchester, Ant. J., XXVIII, 123–37.Google Scholar
Fox, C. and Lethbridge, T. C., 1926. ‘The La Tène and Romano-British Cemetery, Guilden Morden, Cambs.’, PCAS, XXVII, 49–63.Google Scholar
Frere, S. S., 1954. ‘Canterbury Excavations, Summer 1946. The Rose Lane Sites’, Arch. Cant., LXVIII, 101–43.Google Scholar
Fromols, J., 1955. ‘Recensement des Tumulus et fouilles archéologiques dans la forêt des Pothées (Ardennes); Fouilles de MM. Brisson, Loppin et Hégly en 1938 et 1939’, MSACSAM, XXIX, 5–32.Google Scholar
Goury, G., 1911. L'Enceinte d'Haulzy et sa nécropole. Étapes de l'Humanité, 1, fasc. II. Nancy.Google Scholar
Hawkes, C. F. C., 1940. ‘An “Aylesford” La Tène III Brooch from Arundel Park, and the Dating of the Type’, Ant. J., XX, 492–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hawkes, C. F. C. and Dunning, G. C., 1930. ‘The Belgae of Gaul and Britain’, Arch. J., LXXXVII, 150–335.Google Scholar
Hawkes, C. F. C. and Hull, M. R., 1947. Camulodunum. London.Google Scholar
Holmes, J. and Frend, W. H. C., 1959. ‘A Belgic Chieftain's Grave on Hertford Heath’, EHAST, XIV, 1–19.Google Scholar
Hubert, H., 1902. ‘La Collection Moreau au Musée de Saint-Germain’, RA, 167–206.Google Scholar
Hubert, H., 1906. ‘La Collection Moreau au Musée de Saint-Germain’, RA, 337–71.Google Scholar
Ince, A. G., 1928. Notes on ‘Pedestal-urns in Kent’, Ant. J., VIII, 93–4.Google Scholar
Jacobsthal, P., 1944. Early Celtic Art. Oxford.Google Scholar
Joffroy, R. and Bretz-Mahler, D., 1959. ‘Les Tombes à char de La Tène dans l'Est de la France’, Gallia, XVII, 5–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenworthy, J. W., 1906. ‘Notes on the Discovery of Ancient Vessels on a Roman Site at Braintree’, EAST, IX, 195–6.Google Scholar
Kimmig, W., 1951. ‘Où en est l'étude de la Civilisation des Champs d'Urnes en France, principalement dans l'Est?’, RAE, 11, 66–81.Google Scholar
Kimmig, W., 1952. ‘Où en est…’, RAE, III, 7–19 and 137–72.Google Scholar
Kimmig, W., 1954. ‘Où en est…’, RAE, V, 7–28 and 209–32.Google Scholar
de Laet, S. J., 1958. The Low Countries. London.Google Scholar
de Laet, S. J. and Mariën, M.-E., 1950. ‘La nécropole de Lommel-Kattenbosch’, Ant. Class., XIX, 309–66.Google Scholar
Larmigny, A., 1924. ‘Découverte d'un “oenochoe” avec anse ornamentée à la briqueterie de Château-Porcien’, BSAC., 13–14.Google Scholar
Laver, H., 1905. ‘Find of Late-Celtic Pottery at Little Hallingbury, Essex’, EAST, IX, 348–50.Google Scholar
Laver, P. G., 1927. ‘The Excavations of a Tumulus at Lexden, Colchester’, Arch., LXXVI, 241–54.Google Scholar
Lethbridge, T. C., 1953. ‘Burial of an Iron Age Warrior at Snailwell’, PCAS, XLVII, 25–37.Google Scholar
de Loë, A., 1903. ‘Informations’, BMRC, 2 (1902–3), 30–1; andGoogle Scholar
‘Fouilles a Ryckvorsel’, BMRC, 2 (1902–3), 37–8.Google Scholar
de Loë, A., 1904. ‘Note préliminaire sur les découvertes archéologiques faites à Malines au cours des travaux de dérivation de la Dyle’, BSAB, 23, XCV–XCVI.Google Scholar
de Loë, A., 1905. ‘Découverte des vestiges d'une station palustre dans les travaux de dérivation de la Dyle à Malines’, BMRC, 4 (1904–5), 3–6.Google Scholar
de Loë, A., 1913. ‘Nos recherches et fouilles’, BMRC, 12, 30–93.Google Scholar
de Loë, A., 1939. Belgique Ancienne, 11. Brussels.Google Scholar
de Loë, Huart-, 1911. ‘Étude des ossements humains de la palafitte de Neckerspoel à Malines’, BSAB, 30, CCCXXVI–CCCLIX.Google Scholar
Logeart, G., 1931. ‘Coup d'oeil retrospectif sur les cimetières d'Aussonce’, BSAC, 27–34.Google Scholar
Mariën, M.-E., 1952. Oud Belgie. Antwerp.Google Scholar
Mariën, M.-E., 1961. La période de La Tène en Belgique: Le groupe de la Haine. (Monographies d'Archéologie Nationale 2, Musée Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire.). Brussels.Google Scholar
Moreau, F., 1890a. Album Caranda, I. Châlons-sur-Marne, 1877.Google Scholar
Moreau, F., 1890b. Album Caranda, II. Châlons-sur-Marne, 1879–1885.Google Scholar
Moreau, F., 1890c. Album Caranda, III. Châlons-sur-Marne, 1886–1891.Google Scholar
Moreau, F., 1890d. Supplément à l'Album Caranda. Châlons-sur-Marne, 1891–1894.Google Scholar
Morel, L., 1890. La Champagne Souterraine. Châlons-sur-Marne, 1875–90.Google Scholar
Morel, L., 1898. La Champagne Souterraine: Matériaux et Documents. Châlons-sur-Marne, 1875–98.Google Scholar
Neville, R. C., 1857. Arch. J., XIV, 85–7.Google Scholar
Nicaise, A., 1897. ‘La sépulture gauloise à incinération à Cernon-sur-Coole’, MSACSAM, 143–8.Google Scholar
D'orval, H., 1840. ‘Mémoire sur les fouilles de Port-le-Grand et sur la découverte des vases celtiques’, MSEA, 285–95.Google Scholar
de Pauw, L. and Hublard, E., 1894. AFAHM, 9, 276–7.Google Scholar
Piggott, S., 1931. ‘The Uffington White Horse’, Antiquity, V, 37–46.Google Scholar
Prigg, H., 1889. JBAA, XLV, 81.Google Scholar
Radford, C. A. Ralegh, 1954. ‘The Tribes of Southern Britain’, PPS, XX, 1–26.Google Scholar
Radford, C. A. Ralegh, 1955. ‘Contributions to a Study of the Belgae’, PPS, XXI, 249–56.Google Scholar
Rahir, E., 1927. ‘L'âge du fer à La Panne, Une fabrique de poteries’, BSAB, 42, 14–67.Google Scholar
Rahir, E., 1930. ‘Fabrication de poteries, habitats et sépultures de l'âge du fer, Romanisation des inhabitants de l'âge du fer’, BSAB, 45, 10–83.Google Scholar
Ransom, A., 1891. PSA, XIII, 16–18.Google Scholar
Reader, F. W., 1912. ‘A Neolithic floor in the bed of the Crouch river, and other discoveries near Rayleigh, Essex’, EN, XVI, 249–54.Google Scholar
Ritterling, E., 1913. Das frührömische Lager bei Hofheim im Taunus. Wiesbaden.Google Scholar
Rutot, A., 1905. ‘Découverte de poteries de l'âge du métal à Leval-Trahegnies’, BSAB, 24, CCXXXII–CCXXXIV.Google Scholar
Sandars, N. K., 1957. Bronze Age Cultures in France. Cambridge.Google Scholar
Schmit, É., 1926. ‘Le cimetière de Soudé-Ste.-Croix, Vitry, Marne’, BSAC, 82–4.Google Scholar
Simonnet, L., 1930. ‘Hauviné: Incinérations du Marnien III’, BSAC, 85–7.Google Scholar
Simonnet, L., 1932. ‘CimetièRe à incinérations du lieudit “La Poterie” Hauviné (Ardennes)’, BSAC, 56–64.Google Scholar
Simonnet, L., 1936. ‘CimetièRe a incinerations du lieudit “La Poterie” Hauviné (Ardennes); Fouilles 1933–36’, BSAC, 47–57.Google Scholar
Smith, R. A., 1912. ‘On Late-Celtic Antiquities discovered at Welwyn, Herts’, Arch., LXIII, 1–30.Google Scholar
Smith, R. A., 1914. PSA, XXVI, 238–40.Google Scholar
Smith, Roach, 1850. Collectanea Antiqua, 11.Google Scholar
Stroobant, L., 1902. ‘Note sur la cimetière préhistorique de Ryckevorse’, AARAB, 54, 406–11.Google Scholar
Stroobant, L., 1921. ‘La nécropole à incinération de Ryckevorsel’, AARAB, 69, 75–118.Google Scholar
Thiérot, A., 1931, ‘CimetièRes marniens’, BSAC, 41–56.Google Scholar
Werner, J., 1954. ‘Die Bronzekanne von Kelheim’, Bay. Vorg., XX, 43–73.Google Scholar
Wheeler, R. E. M., 1936. Verulamium. London.Google Scholar