A lot of people may argue that history doesn't have much bearing on modern culture, but I truly believe that our history, the paths we've taken as a people to get where we are is as deeply ingrained in us as our genetic code, whether realized or not.
The history of Aber begins with its rich flint deposits in the Mesolithic period. Tribes survived into the Neolithic and Bronze Age in this area, as evidenced by burial mounds, standing stones, stone circles and hill forts. Aber has a strong history of mining, evidently beginning in this ancient time period, with a copper mine only 23 km to the east. This metal would continue to be mined in this region into the 1000's BCE, specifically at a site in Plynlimon.
Stonehenge was designed and built in this extended period of time. It began as a simple earth circle in 3100 BCE and wasn't completed until 1300 BCE. It becomes more and more interesting as it towers through history, mainly for the physical feats of moving the inner circle's volcanic bluestones all the way from Wales (160 miles) and then raising the 4 ton blocks into position, not to mention the 20-25 ton sandstone slabs that were transported from about 20-30 miles away. This site is fascinating to me because it is a feat of ancient technology that is difficult to imagine.
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| A modern, crumbled view of Stonehenge |
As the 500's BCE approached it seems invaders came from the sea and established a fort on Pendinas Hill (the hill on the southern edge of Aber town) that supported a human population of 100. This population is rather minuscule compared to the giants in the Mediterranean in this period: Sparta had three times this population just to fight Persia, but this area was naturally harsher towards survival.
Then comes a moment that defines the face of the Britannia and Wales we know now. Celt arrives circa 400-100 BCE. Unlike popular belief, Celtic is not a definitive group of genes that make up a tribe or race that swept Europe. Rather, this culture, these ideas, come from advances in technology and shifts in cultural fashion that were adopted by local peoples from a few that came from mainland Europe. In fact, before this period, tribes on the island didn't really have an over-arching term to clump them like "Anglo-Saxon" or "Breton".
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| A Celtic knot work cross |
Since the conquering of Greece, Rome had been rapidly conquering the lands in Europe, growing and growing until the tips of their fingers began to reach for Britain in 54 BCE. Rome was actually the first to call the island by its modern name "Brittania": this word, when broken down etymologically means "Land of the tattooed people".
Until now, the lands around Aberystwyth, remember that hill fort on top of Pendinas, seem to have been abandoned for use. Mayhaps the population grew too large, and the people were called to invade a larger, pre-established township. But the world moves on.
Meanwhile, Britain is colonised for Rome, Londinium has been established (43 CE) and the Romans are setting their eye on the land beyond the mountains.
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| Artist's idea of Rome's Londinium |
Wales was not too far away for Rome to reach. While these territories were more harsh and not so easily settled as England, Rome had a firm military occupation of these wildernesses. With the cruelty of the regime of the period of Caratacus - the Roman military leader who used guerilla tactics and refused to keep his legionnaires in check - rebellion began with ferocity, and not just in Wales or Scotland. In 61 CE the Trinovantes and Iceni tribes attack and sack Londinium from the Northeast. The Romans counter by conquering the most important druidic site in Britain, Anglesey.
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| Roman map of townships and tribal lands |
Boudicca, or Boadicea, or Buddug in Welsh, had lead these attacks against Rome in the South. She was queen of the Iceni tribe and her story is one of a woman scorned. When her husband died he left his kingdom partially to his daughters (women had almost all the same rights as men in Celtic culture) and in part to the Roman Emperor. This desire was ignored and the kingdom annexed completely by Rome. His wife, Boudicca, was flogged, her daughters raped and Rome unfairly called in all outstanding loans (debt was met with much harsher punishment then, just so you are aware).
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| Neoclassical depiction of Boudicca |
Her rebellion against the invaders was, in a way, successful. Her band managed to destroy Camulodunum, modern day Colchester, and burn both Londinium and Verulamium (St. Alban's) to the ground. She had rallied enough Britons to outnumber and frighten the Roman legions into retreat, at least for a little while. They soon regrouped in the West Midlands and attacked, although still outnumbered, and routed the army of the fiery queen. Boudicca was not led to death by Roman hands however, it said she either committed suicide as to avoid such an outcome, or she simply fell ill: historical sources differ, although suicide is the more popular and romantic theory.
She is still an important figure today. When Queen Victoria ruled, she had a blossoming of cultural awareness about her, because the queen was often cited as the warrior-queen's namesake, but no matter who is in power, any woman that could make Emperor Nero consider the Roman evacuation of Britannia is a powerful figure. No one is sure what she really looks like, but she is depicted most often as strong and regal, a powerful and striking leader. At other times she is depicted as a voracious warrior with the tattoo markings of the ancient Britons.
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| A statue of Boudicca just off Westminster Bridge, London |
In 126 CE Hadrian's Wall was built to keep the rampaging barbarians of modern Scotland out of England: later the Antonine Wall was built and served the same purpose, but even further north as the Romans fought on. It is not known precisely why the wall was built, besides the fact that Rome had yet to conquer the northern barbarians, but it was a strong fortification that in some places was over 20ft high and in others over 10ft thick.
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| One portion of the 80 mile long Hadrian's Wall |
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