This well-illustrated book on Breton identity is a development of Cunliffe’s Facing the Ocean (2001), in which he successfully carves out a broad Atlantic cultural identity, separate to that of central Europe. Echoing the great Cyril Fox, Cunliffe’s opening chapter seeks first to contextualise the archaeology in the geography – revealing the geology of Cornwall as Armorican in origin. A series of Cunliffe’s characteristically excellent maps reveal Brittany as a peninsular culture, the area furthest west preserving the language. Coastal communities, separated by inland uplands, connect instead via the sea, moving inland on rivers. Our own journey is through the archaeology and history of Brittany, from the late Mesolithic to the 20th century. A short primer on prehistoric boats, Atlantic seafaring, and harbours reminds that Cunliffe remains the doyen of coastal archaeology.
From a brief section on the evidence for late Mesolithic hunter-gatherers (6000 BC) and first farmers (c.5400 BC), we are immersed in 34 attention-grabbing pages on Brittany’s Neolithic monuments, and connections north to Irish passage graves. From there to Early Bronze Age contact and the important role for Brittany regarding beakers, barrows, and other object types. Limited settlement evidence sees parallels with contemporary southern Britain, with scant Middle Bronze Age evidence too, finally increasing after 1200 BC. Cunliffe’s metalwork distribution-maps successfully demonstrate Late Bronze Age Atlantic connections, and Armorican axe hoards – with an astonishing 38,000 axe-heads now found – see measured, informative discussion.
The elusive Atlantic Early Iron Age begins with Armorican burial rites, consideration of Bourges and the tin trade, and Armorica now echoing traditions from further east. We hear of the first Greek textual references – although the location of the Oestryminides is disputed by this reviewer. Discussion of underground souterrains and above-ground stelae reveal again broader Atlantic connections, while the ceramics confirm social development from the Bronze Age, alongside exotic items from afar. The Late Iron Age sees consideration of the role of wine, and maps the coin-producing Armorican groups, ending on Caesar’s campaign, with Chapter 5 on the ‘Roman interlude’.
