"Brit-Am Now"-661
Contents:
1. Western Mail: 'Welsh aren't 'true' Celts' claim
2. Sally: Suggestion, "if everyone who is interested"
3. Tom Turner's Works of Art

1. Western Mail: 'Welsh aren't 'true' Celts' claim
Feb 18 2006

Catrin Pascoe, Western Mail

THE MODERN nations that consider themselves to be Celtic are not
actually anything to do with the "true Celts" who once dominated
Iron Age Europe, according to anthropological research.

The Welsh, Irish and other peoples who regard themselves as Celtic
cousins are in fact ancient Bretons who include the original English
peoples.

Being Celtic is not about blood, tribes and red hair; nor is it
about loving folk music and believing in the little people.

In a landmark special to be broadcast tonight, anthropologist
Richard Rudgley, who comes from London, aims to separate myth from
fact as he reveals the Celtic world.

Chris Malone, producer for Granada TV, joined him on the journey
tracing the Celtic tradition across the world and said that it
actually originated with the "true Celts" of central Europe.

Mr Malone said, "It is assumed that the Celts are the people who
speak a 'Celtic' language like the Scots and Welsh.

"These are the peoples who were pushed to the fringes after the
Roman invasion. People also think about the Celtic crosses, and
about the whole pagan druid thing.

"But those are all the cliches. When the Romans arrived in Britain,
they never described the people as Celts.

"The 'true Celts' were the continental Celts, although they spread
across Europe."

He said that Victorian experts made a big mistake in assuming that
what we now call the modern Celtic languages were actually from
those European Celts.

Patrick Sims-Williams of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth,
contributes to the film, demonstrating that ancient Welsh was in
Britain before these European Celts arrived.

Neither is there much evidence of migration, according to DNA
research from Trinity College in Dublin.

Mr Malone said, "So the word 'Celt' as we understand it only
actually started being used in that way in the 18th century, and it
has taken on different meanings.

"What we think of as being Celtic is not necessarily the same as
those original Celts.

"It has all been reinvented. It is a name for the tribes which were
originally here in Britain and Ireland and their coming together has
created this myth.

"And in that happening, the English have lost some sense of their
individual identity."

He said Iron Age communities like Castell Henllys, visited during
the programme, were similar to Celtic settlements in Europe of the
same period, but there were key differences.

"Mostly, the similarities are merely copied designs, sometimes
copied burial rites."

However the Celtic concept is still important, according to the
programme makers.

In reaching his conclusion, Mr Rudgley meets druids, sails in Celtic
ships, rides Celtic chariots, and fights with Celtic weapons as he
uncovers remarkable archaeological evidence that sheds a whole new
light on the European culture.

He contends that, far from being marginal to who we are today, the
Celtic tradition is a crucial part of what makes Britain.

Mr Rudgley argues that the Celtic tradition is a golden thread that
has been intertwined with the heart of Europe for thousands of
years; a Celtic "magic" that is still there for the taking, offering
us a basis for a new Europe.

And the significant fact is that the Welsh language and related
dialects spoken in places like Cornwall and Brittany preceded the
arrival of both Roman and Celtic peoples.

"It is a much older language than that, which gives us some sort of
common root and a much more ancient connection," added Mr Malone.

"That precedes the Celts so it is far older than we might assume."

We certainly want to be Celts

We may not be Celts historically speaking, but we certainly want to
be.

As tonight's Channel 4 programme points out, the word has now been
reinvented and refers not to the original Celtic peoples of mainland
Europe, but the modern "Celtic" areas.

Scotland has its Celtic football team while Wales, for a short
period at least, had the Celtic Warriors rugby side.

Celtic music is sold in Irish and other traditional shops. Stones
which were in fact carved by medieval monks influenced by the
Christian tradition are also described as "Celtic".

And the pagan traditions of our predecessors have been revived by
the Eisteddfod druids, which is also sometimes described as a Celtic
ceremony. There is also a huge industry of Celtic-themed jewellery,
brooches, etc, with traditional intertwined designs.

The number of businesses in Wales, Scotland and Ireland with Celtic
in their name is huge - including Celtica Food, Celtic Alarms and
Celtic Inns.

2. Sally: Suggestion, "if everyone who is interested"
From: Sally
Subject: Re: "Brit-Am Now"-659

Hello Yair, in response to reminders of funds needed, I think if everyone who is interested in, or benefits from your work and research, could send in just a few dollars on a regular basis the combined funds would be a big help in moving your work forward. Many hands make lighter work. Sal

REMEMBER THE FORMER THINGS, THOSE OF LONG AGO, I AM YHWH, AND THERE IS NO OTHER: I AM YHWH, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME. (Isa. 46:9)

3. Tom Turner's Works of Art
View the Ezekiel Stick
http://britam.org/ezekiel/ezekiel-stick.html
See too two pictures of the Jerusalem Table Piece
and of Yair demonstrating features of the workmanship.
To purchase these items or for more information
contact Tom Turner at:
Tommy704@aol.com












Publications
NOW INDEX