Allison Leyer, “The Conversion of Religious Landscapes from Sacred Groves to Romano-Celtic Temples: Romans Conquest of Briton”
Mentor: Nigel Rothfels, History
Poster #84

The Celts never produced a written history, leaving the details of their culture, beliefs, and religion up for interpretation by Roman generals, politicians, and philosophers. This paper focuses on the Celtic tribes of Briton and seeks to elaborate on their religious conversion through Roman contact and conquest between 60BC and 60AD. The paper focuses on the elemental worship of ancient Celts through sacred groves, and the meaning placed upon oak trees. Numerous classical writers document Celts worshiping in sacred groves of oak trees, utilizing the elements of the earth to practice their religion. However, the primary documentation of sacred groves is limited to military contact and in turn joins the violent nature of war, with elemental worship. The central questions seek to ask what factors pushed Celtic practice out of sacred groves, and into stone enclosed structures. Further, how did Roman conquest and literature change the belief structures of Briton Celts in their time, and our present understanding of the past. Classical sources intrinsic bias will be interpreted thoroughly, and challenged through the cross analysis of folklore and antiquarian resources of the 17th century. To fill the gaps of religious ritual and worship, archeological excavation reports highlight the evidence of offering deposits, shrines, and patterns of Celtic worship. The combination of these research methods will add a new interpretation of the worship in groves, the cultural environment surrounding its use, and how the dissolution of Celtic religion impacts the upcoming age of Christianity.