Who were the Celtic peoples that inhabited Britain and much of Europe during the time of Christ? Why did such people have Asiatic style war chariots? And why did the Belgae of Southern England have palm trees, of all things, on their coins?
Diodorus Siculus, writing in 60 B.C., stated: “The Britons live in the same manner that the ancients did; they fight in chariots as the ancient heroes of Greece are said to have done in the Trojan Wars — they are plain and upright in their dealings — the island is very populous — the Celts never shut the doors of their houses; they invite strangers to their feasts, and when it is over ask who they are and what is their business.”
The Celts were a prosperous and industrious people. Wealth was centred in large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. Food was often preserved in smoked, cured, or salted form. International trade flourished, wine was imported from the Mediterranean region.