[SunkenCiv]

Probably should approach this with some caution, because there's a heavy bias against the hillforts actually having been forts. The kumbaya idea that somehow our peaceful ancestors lived in peace in peaceful surroundings of their own making is trying to strangle serious research in Britain, just as it is here. Also, it's Ancient Origins, which is not a great site to use. Also, AO cites the Daily Mail, and well, you get the idea. My comfortable old equipment has a time loading better sources at times, part of the totally non-collusive efforts to ensure public safety online. /sarc

BTW, Vespasian was a highly effective Roman general, who really did romp across Britain reducing one hillfort after another during the one-season initial conquest of souther Britain, during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Later, under Emperor Nero, Vespasian continued to demonstrate his value to Rome, and was in the process of systematically putting down the so-called Jewish rebellion, leaving the denouement to his son Titus as Vespasian himself turned his attention to becoming emperor in his own right, during the Year of Four Emperors (five, really -- Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian). His Flavian dynasty consisted of himself and each of his two sons in succession, lasted barely a generation, yet it stabilized the Empire, and left us with the most enduring symbol of it -- the Colosseum / Coliseum / Flavian Amphitheatre, and the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever made, the Pantheon.

[Tallguy]

Next thing you know they’ll be telling us Nessie isn’t ‘real’?

[pax_et_bonum]

More years ago than I am willing to say, I took my young sons to a traveling Smithsonian Viking exhibit.

It was early evening and were standing in front of the glass case which held the weapons when a group of businesspeople and their Smithsonian guide entered the exhibit to our right.

We were about twenty feet behind their guide as they stopped next to a large stone from an English (I think) church in Viking times into which was etched a desperate prayer, part of which went something like “deliver us from the wrath of the Norsemen”.

As the group listened to his introduction speech in the quiet of the museum we couldn’t help but overhear the guide’s comments.

When he said,”Contrary to popular belief, the Vikings were simply peaceful farmers”, the group turned their eyes toward us and the weapons display as I turned to look at them.

For a short moment we were as one, sharing subdued and slightly wide-eyed amazement as we glanced at the peaceful farm tools posing as barbaric weaponry and then back at each other.

:-)

[sphinx]

Probably should approach this with some caution, because there's a heavy bias against the hillforts actually having been forts. The kumbaya idea that somehow our peaceful ancestors lived in peace in peaceful surroundings of their own making is trying to strangle serious research in Britain, just as it is here.

If time permits, could you expand a bit on this? I only dip a toe in the subject from time to time, usually while in incidental pursuit of some tangential issue. I am aware that the peaceable kingdom fantasists have infiltrated relevant disciplines, but I also thought that the homo homini lupus/nature red in tooth and claw realists have always hung in the fight, and that the balance was perhaps swinging back their way due to the last generation's archaeological finds evidencing conflict.

[Red Badger]

The Romans didn’t do anything to the ancient Britons that they weren’t doing to each other for hundreds of years..................hmmm........sounds familiar.....................