Britons in blue: A contextual analysis of corporeal painting in Great Britain, from the Iron Age to the early Middle Ages

2023/12/07 by Daniela Dantas · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Historical and Religious Studies of Rome #Archaeology and Rock Art Studies #Historical and Archaeological Studies

paper · pdf · doi:10.14201/shha31320

openalex publication_date 2023/12/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22

Abstract

Ancient sources frequently mention body painting as a practice in Great Britain. This custom, which is mentioned in continuity from the days of Julius Caesar to the Anglo-Saxon era, has not yet been confirmed by archaeological and iconographic evidence, but there are enough indicators to promote continued research. Textual and archaeological analysis shows there may have been an evolution in the practice between the Iron Age and the Early Middle Ages, when new religious and cultural spheres would have led to eventual extinction. Although presented by Caesar as a military practice, corporeal painting may have extended to other spheres of ancient societies, including aesthetic purposes and religious rites.

Citations

• Searching for blue: Experiments with woad fermentation vats and an explanation of the colours through dye analysis
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Discussions

• This paper also lays out some of the historiographic issues... "Victorian interest in I. Tinctoria, represents a historiographic effort of cause and causality, in an attempt to correlate it with [bsky, 4 points, 0 comments]

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