The Iron Age Project celebrated its fifth year in September 1998. Although the major buildings are complete, many of us feel that we have only scratched the surface of this interesting period in history.

We have worked on many living history events and television programmes. We have also educationally entertained over four thousand children with our school visits.

As well as the project, kit making and living history events, we also host the Beltane festival. I know all this sounds like hard work – well it is, but we try to have as many parties as possible to balance the hard work with lots of fun. Some of our members are infamous for their ‘partying’ abilities, and all members will agree that –WE DO HAVE A LOVELY ROOF !!

Cantiaci try to be as non-hierarchical as possible. The Tribal Chieftain is Joe Toomey who originally founded the group in 1993. Chris Toomey is the group secretary and is responsible for events and school group visits to the Iron Age Project. Carol Wigley and Joe Toomey are the current double signatories for the tribe and project accounts.

Each member is encouraged to air his or her opinions about all aspects of the running of Cantiaci. We have tribe meetings on a regular basis and regular information handouts so everyone knows what is happening. How much time and effort you put in to Cantiaci is up to the individual. Generally, the more you join in, the more fun you’ll have.

It is assumed that Kent was settled by a wave of Belgic and Gaulish migrants, mainly from the Marne region between 200 to 150 B.C. Trying to escape the forces of the Romans in Gaul, they made their capital at, or near the site of modern Canterbury. In early times it was known as Duroavernum (the fort of the alders or swamp). In his book ‘The Cantiaci’, Alan Detsicas states that ‘the area was imperfectly known and formed part of a larger region centered on the Thames, stretching as far north as the East Anglia rivers, west to the Chiltern region and South to the High Weald of Kent.’

Differing ceramic traditions in the area suggest that Belgic penetration did not extend beyond the Medway. It has also been suggested that Oldbury hillfort was possibly a staging post between Belgic and non- Belgic peoples controlling the Darent valley. Bigbury hillfort was the precursor of the Belgic controlled crossing of the River Stour. The hillfort at Quarry Wood shows a probable large shift of emphasis in strategic control, from smaller hillforts to large, open oppidum settlements. Quarry Wood also controlled the crossing of the Medway, anticipating Belgic Rochester.

Barry Cunliffe in his book Iron Age Communities in Britain, states that there were dramatic changes in South East Britain after the mid second century B.C. Our principal exports at the time were grain, cattle, gold, silver, iron, hides, hunting dogs and slaves. Hengistbury Head appears to have been the main port of entry in the early first century B.C. Although vast quantities of commodities were collected there, we see no evidence of slaves or hunting dogs. New materials were imported from the continent. The large amounts of Dressel type 1B vessels in Kent show an excess of Italian wine.

Kent is considered by Cunliffe to have been in the channel zone of contact due to geography. Our Aylesford Swarling culture pottery is closely linked to the Southern Belgic culture.

The earliest minted coins are concentrated in the Thames estuary, especially Kent, showing our social political links with our Gallo Belgic neighbors. A Belgic coin mint was discovered under Roman Rochester. There is also evidence of locally struck potin coins.

Caesar invaded Britain in 55 and 54 B.C. On 27 August 55 B.C, he landed at Deal with a force of ten to fourteen thousand Roman soldiers. We know from his commentaries that the landing was difficult. Cassievellaunus was the accepted warleader of the British resistance to Rome. He sent orders to the four Cantii kings to launch a surprise attack on Caesar’s naval base on the coast.

It would appear that the Briton’s method of attack and defense were more suited to the rapid raids of inter tribal fighting, than the organised might of the Roman army.

Caesar was confronted by three forces, infantry, cavalry and charioteers who seldom fought in close formation, but usually attacked in open order, interspersed with groups of reserves to cover retreat or relieve tiring warriors. Caesar found that fighting such a force was difficult. However, the Roman had no difficulty in destroying the hillfort at Bigbury, moving on to destroy the seat of Cassievellaunus in Hertfordshire.

Caesar finally left our shores on 26 September 54 B.C after demanding hostages, annual tribute payable to Rome and forbidding Cassievellaunus to interfere with Mandubratios and his pro Roman tribe of Trinovantes. Caesar obviously intended to return, but his problems with our Gaulish cousins cancelled his future plans for Britain.

While Caesar was fighting in Gaul, against Vercingetorix in 52 B.C, Commius an Atrebate and previously Caesar’s emissary to Britain joined forces against Rome. When the Gauls were defeated, Commius escaped to Britain to join his established Atrebate family. He ruled the Atrebates in Britain. Tincommius, Epillus and Verica claimed to be his sons. Epillus ruled Kent from A.D 1 to A.D 20 and Verica ran to Rome in 43 A.D, giving Claudius his excuse for invasion. So, it would appear that they were probably Commius’ grandsons.

Cymbelinus, the son of Mandubratios ruled Dover from around 19 B.C and was succeeded by his son Guiderius in 16 AD, Dumnovellaunaus controlled the entire area east of the Medway from around 15B.C to 5 B.C, to be replaced by local chiefs Vosenius or Vodenos and Sa{ ? }. This evidence is supported by local coinage.

Cunobelinos removed Epillus from rule in 20 AD Cunobelinos held the lands from the middle of the Thames to the Sussex coast and the Bedfordshire Ouse to Kent. Suetonius referred to him as ‘Britannorum Rex’. He died around 40 A.D and was succeeded by his sons Togodubnus and Caractacus.

In the early forties AD the confederacy of Britons dominated by the Catuvellaunian and Trinovantian royal houses, took a firm anti Roman stance.

The Claudian invasion began towards the end of April A.D 43, when Aulus Plautius selected the legions, 2^nd Augusta, 14^th Gemina, 20^th Valeria and the 9^th Hispania to accompany him to Britain. The main body of the army came ashore at Richborough, with later landings at Dover and at Lympne.

The aforementioned Guiderius rebelled against the invasion and was killed. His brother followed as king, strengthening his position at Castle Hill, and continuing the rebellion. When the Roman reinforcements landed at Lympne under Vespasian, he abandoned his resistance and made peace with the invaders. It is believed that he married a daughter of Claudius, Genissa.

After several unsuccessful skirmishes against the 50,000 force of Romans, Caractacus and Togodubnus withdrew their army behind a River and pitted their whole resistance against the Romans for two days. There is much discussion as to whether or not the river was the Medway. However, modern day Cantiaci’s are proud to own it as the site of the last stand against Rome.

The following quoted tracts from the classical accounts of Cassius Dio show the outcome;

" The Britons thought that the Romans would not be able to cross it without a bridge; and consequently bivouacked in a rather careless fashion on the opposite bank; but he [Plautius] sent across a detachment of Batavi, who were accustomed to swim easily in full armour across the most turbulent of streams. These fell unexpectedly on the enemy but instead of shooting at any of them they confined themselves to wounding the horses that drew the chariots; and in the confusion that followed not even the enemy’s mounted warriors could save themselves."

Aulus Plautius now ordered Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus (AD 9-79), commander of the 2^nd Augusta and future emperor of Rome, to cross the river further downstream and outflank the Britons.

Dio states " So they got across the river in some way and killed many of the foe, taking them by surprise. The survivors did not take to flight, but on the next day joined issue with them again. The struggle was indecisive until Gnaeus Hosidus Geta, after narrowly missing capture, managed to defeat the Britons so soundly that he received the ‘Ornamenta Triumphalia’.

After the Britons defeat, the folk of this country lived under Roman rule for around five hundred years.