4000 b.c. to 1500 b.c. Neolithic [new stone age]

Old World anthropological research indicates that the Islands were occupied early on by [Paleo-lithic] stone-age man, while the Islands were still joined or nearly joined, to the rest of Europe. Thousands of these Megalithic tombs are in evidence throughout the landscape. as evidence of their occupation, such as Newgrange, Meath and other great stone effigies, such as Stonehedge. There is some thought; to it having been built during this period; perhaps by the Druids. There is little evidence of this occupation, other than early mans archeology. There is evidence that the Islands were occupied by the Celts during the Stone Age [paleo-lithic] or during the New Stone Age [neo-lithic], just before the beginning of the Bronze Age.

What is commonly refered to as Celtic is not a specific race or ethnic group, but an amalgamation of a number of tribes, that identified themselves by a common sept or ancestor. Often these septs if in close proximaty to each other were tribes formed by individuals whom were related. These tribes that by virtue of isolation inter-married, then spoke a similar language and at times co-operated with each other. More often than not, they warred against each other.

There is much documented evidence that there was considerable patricide [killing of the father], father's killing of their off-spring, and even infanticide [killing of new born babies]among the royal families, to gain or maintain these seats of power.

My own family was no different; the Clan O'Lorcain [LARKIN], [perhaps I should take a moment and explain that the Celts were not formed into distinct Clans like the Scots were in later years. They followed a single sept of origin, or progenitor.] Through the single surname research of the O'Lorcain sept, the ancestrial line of heritage has been well documented.

It wasn't until much later that surnames came into existence. Prior to the specific use of surnames of descent, one was known as the son of such and such.

Ages of consideration:

Bronze Age

1500 b.c. to 1000 b.c. Bronze Age

1000 b.c. to 700 b.c. Late Bronze Age

Iron Age

699 b.c. to 350 b.c. Early Iron Age

349 b.c. to 150 b.c. Middle Iron Age

149 b.c. to 43 a.d. Late Iron Age

There appears to have developed a strange anomaly in the eastern hemisphere. Paleo-man began changing their occupancy and difusion patterns. Their impact on the landscape was to some degree governed by the environment as well as the change in religious patterns. This seems to have developed during the period from; about 1500 b.c. to the Roman invasion in 43 a.d..

Late Bronze Age

1000 b.c. = The late Bronze Age was the beginning of the [Urnfield Culture - as some archaeologist call them] which exists across Europe. Begins the transition of the Iron Age. Iron Age Celtic Culture appears all across Europe as they begin their expansion.

800 b.c. = The Urnfield Culture is renamed after new archaeological evidence from Austria in 1876 was revealed. Renaming the Culture to "HALLSTALL".

600 b.c. = The Islands of IERNE[Ireland] and ALBION [England]

550 b.c. = In southern Albion [England] the Celtic culture begin to move from the lowlands to hilltop forts, hundreds of them were built throughout southern England. By this time, the culture had expanded its scope of influence by conquest from Britain, France, southern Germany, western Spain, across northern Italy, East to the Black Sea, South into central Turkey.

In the eastern hemisphere Iron Age man quit building burial mounds, stone style circles, and stopped using such ancient spiritual sites as Stonehedge.

During the Iron Age period, the primary mode of livelyhood was dependent to a great extent on raiding and theft of what few domesticated food stock as there were. Supplimented by the gathering of the meager few wild eatables that could be gathered.

500 b.c. = The Celts begin trading with the Etruscans. Archaeological evidence rename culture to La Tene after 1858.

450 b.c. = Celts recross the Alps and sack Italy.

abt. 390 b.c. = Brennus leader of the Celts, lead them in sacking Rome; demanding a high price in gold. The Celts were at their peak during this period.

350 - 335 b.c. = The Celts from the vicinity of the Adriatic meet Alexander the Great.

279 b.c. = One of the Celtic tribes from Turkey [Galatue or Galatiaus]

Iron Age Trade - 150 b.c.

By the late 150 b.c. period the occupants of the Islands had developed a very substantial trade pattern between the continent and themsleves. Raw material such as tin, gold, and silver; finished goods like coinage, wine, and pottery; as well as slaves.

Coming of the Iron Age: 500 bc to 500 ad

Hilltop Fort of Dunbeg

In abandoning this way of life, they turned to a more pasturial way living, in that they created permanent fields and took to living in protected hilltop forts. Perhaps this was because; as they gained the knowledge to make iron tools, farming became a more rewarding proposition than raiding and pillaging. But, it also had its darkside, in that with iron; came iron weapons. Thus early man became more aggressive. Pastorial groups then needed protection from maurauding bands of armed bandits.

Early Celtic Christian site