Some movies and cartoons show the Celts eating big joints of wild boar around blazing campfires every night. But it’s important to remember that neither ancient Greek Olympic athletes nor Roman Gladiators ever ate red meat. Infact, Gladiators were some of the fittest individuals at this time in history and they were nicknamed ‘Barley –eaters’
In my opinion, even in an Iron Age community such feasting would have happened only on special occasions and the Iron Age people probably ate some of the following food on a day to day basis instead:
- Vegetable soups with onions, wild garlic, turnips, parsnips and cabbage.
- Wild berries like Gooseberries, blackberries and blueberries
- Porridge made from rolled oats
- Flat breads
- Eggs from their hens and wild birds eggs
- Honey from local bees
- Chicken and fish like trout, mackerel and salmon
- Seaweed, crabs, mussel’s molluscs
- Nettles, Fennel, Common Sorrel, Wild Garlic, Parsley, Spinach
- Wild Mushrooms ***
- Wild Animals like Bear, Fox, Beaver, Deer, Wild Boar,
- Ducks, Wild Birds, and Frogs etc.
- Black Puddings and Bacon and Sausages
- Some domesticated animals like goats, sheep and pigs.
Warning*** If you can’t identify which wild mushrooms are poisonous, don’t eat any of them.
Further, of course the Gauls and Britons would not have known what coffee or fizzy drinks were and no doubt, they were better off for it. But what choices did they have when they were thirsty?
Milk or Water
Undoubtedly milk from goats and cattle was a staple drink amongst both children and adults with water from a natural spring also being in plentiful supply.
Herbal Tea
They certainly didn’t have tea as we know it, but they must have found comfort in a bowl of herbal tea. By adding different herbs to hot water various minor ailments could be relieved. For instance, living close to the smoke from an open fire on a daily basis, Sage could be given to ease asthma and pleurisy; wild mint would be given to settle and upset stomach, chamomile to help relax the whole body. They would have sweetened all of the above by simply adding honey.
Alcohol
Even in ancient times, alcohol was very important, especially amongst the Iron Age People whom drank it as part of their many social activities. Ancient writers tell us that the poorer folk drank a honey beer and that very strong mead was fermented also. However, the higher up the social ladder you were, you would more than likely want to be seen to drink red wine.
Red wine would have had to have been imported from Europe and by drinking red wine, you were showing your neighbours that you could afford to do so.
But let’s get back to the food…