Theory that \'Celts\' are a myth

[Ghostmojo]

This deconstruction of the Celts - often called Celtoscepticism - has more to do with English insecurity over their own ethnicity, along with prejudice against the Welsh, Cornish and Scottish (exacerbated during the devolution movements of the 1990's), than any scientific basis. The main proponents of the anti-Celtic movement are English archaeologists, who are in denial that some of their non-Saxon ancestors might have cultural, linguistic, and (god forbid!) genetic links with the French. Most of their arguments do not hold water.

That is an incredibly simplistic view of the issue. It is also in my view quite misplaced.

I am English/British and have no insecurity whatsoever. My family also happens to have Welsh blood in it (and other groupings too).

This issue is complex and needs to be unpicked right the way back through history. What you are actually seeing is an attempt to redress the balance somewhat, and more significantly to get at a real historic truth rather than the dressed up myths passing as accepted lore. The prejudice you cite is quite without basis.

Isn't it right that we try to get to the real truth of any historic issue? Even if that means cherished notions prove to be either exaggerated or occasionally completely without any factual basis? The worldwide diaspora of Celticness and supposed Celtic 'culture' these days is something approaching a lifestyle/money spinning business. Much of it is completely fanciful. The strength of it owes much to entrenched views which are quite specious, and date back to the days when there was a reaction towards the growth of the largely English dominated empire. It is always worth looking into when the word itself first came into use in the British Isles. There is undoubtedly an anti-Englishness about these days. You get it in certain parts of the USA and Australia, usually from people descended from non-English (but perhaps from the British Isles) emigrants. It is worth remembering that the enterprise that was the British Empire was an Anglo-Scots affair. Many of our friends north of the border were so enamoured of the union they actually stopped using the word Scotland and referred to their area as North Britain. All of this of course has to be seen through different lenses these days with the growth or reemergence of nationalism. I can quite understand that now - just as I can when England might have been seen as the unwelcome dominant force within Britain. But none of it helps us get at the real historic truths.

I have read some of the books mentioned here and others. It strikes me that as students of history we should seek a truth based upon reason, archaeology, linguistic research and even DNA testings - anything that will get us closer to what really happened as opposed to what some groups like to think happened.

I also think you need to decide which strand you are researching/following. I am prepared to discuss the notion of whether the various peoples of the ancient British Isles were Celts or not, or perhaps just Celtic-influenced. When it comes to the whole of Europe the issue gets even more confusing.

Let's be careful about labelling all recent research and evaluation as revisionism. There have been plenty of examples of investigation that has quite overturned earlier views of history. We might be further away from the happenings of the past, but modern technology actually brings us closer to the reality than our Victorian forbears from whence much accepted fact originates. I don't mind what the truth is - as long as it is the truth and not quasi-mystical yearning for a glorious celtic past that never existed. There are huge established Celtic powerbases these days, in whose interests it is to continue to promote and develop this business. The dynamics of it involve tourism; politics; culture and above all both the romantic attachment to some kind of almost Tolkienesque mythical culture or art, literature, language and song - and a lot of new age money.

Oh and BTW - as much as I admire (and consult the words of) Herotodos; the father of history - he did get mixed up as to where the source of the Danube was, which is why there was so much debate as to whether the homeland of these Keltoi was in the Swiss/Austrian area - or around the Pyrenees.