Celts in Ancient France

800 BCE. It was the Iron Age for the Celts who then resided around modern-day Austria. During this time they began to spread all over Europe. Certain groups immigrated amply to modern France. As per Roman history, Gaul which encompassed France was home to more than five dozen distinct Celtic groups.

The Celts formed a tribal agricultural society headed by landlords. They recognized more than 300 gods and goddesses. Their religious and cultural leaders were druids who were gifted healers.

Some Celts had an aristocratic warrior lineage. Then there was the intellectual class of druids, judges, jurists, priests, teachers, poets etc. They lived in round houses with walls of daub and wattle with thatched roofs. The benches in their cottages doubled as beds. They used low-lying tables.

Both animals and family members slept in these homes together. The purpose of this arrangement was that all of them were safe from robbers and predatory animals at night.

They grew food to feed themselves and knew where around their village they could collect nuts, honey and berries. The Celts raised sheep, cows, goats, pigs and chickens. Boiled cabbage and corned beef with animal organs was their relished dish. Their favourite alcoholic beverage was mead, made from fermented honey.

They believed in life after death. That’s why they buried the dead with their favourite belongings. Warriors were laid to rest with their shields and helmets. Food and ornaments were often seen with their under-earth corpses.