1. The Celts arrived in Britain from the upper Rhineland about the year 500 BC. They most likely arrived in Britain in two waves: the Goidelic-speaking Celts between 2000 BC and 1200 BC and the Brythonic-speaking sometime between 500 BC to 400 BC. (Modern Welsh and Cornish are descended from Brythonic; modern Scottish and Irish Gaelic from the Goidelic). There was also a smaller wave of settlement of Belgic Celts in Southern England during the first century BC - possibly fleeing from the Roman invasions. 2. The Iron Age Celts lived in Britain before and after Jesus. The name "Iron Age" comes from the discovery of a new metal called iron. 3. Celts were tall and fair or red-haired; according to the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus, they looked "like wood-demons, their hair thick and shaggy like a horse's mane." Celts were also warlike people. The tribes often quarrelled with each other and fought savage battles. The Celts could smelt iron, and used their skills to fashion swords that were superior to bronze weapons. 4. They were farmers and lived in small village groups in the centre of their arable fields. These groups slowly collected together into larger tribes, living in their own special regions. Celtic society was tribal - each kinship group was ruled by a king. Below the king were nobles who were warriors - some of them wealthy enough to afford finely decorated armour like this 1st century BC shield 5. A Famous Celtic Queen Warrior Queen Boudicca was the wife of the ruler of the Iceni, a Celtic tribe who lived in eastern England. After her husband's death, the Romans claimed the Iceni lands. When Boudicca protested she was beaten and her daughters attacked. In revenge, Boudica led an army to attack London in AD 60. Boudicca's army caused vast amounts of damage before being defeated. 6. Celtic Houses The Celts lived in round houses with thatched roofs of straw or heather. The walls of their houses were made from local mat