Albiones

The Albiones were a Pre-Roman Celtic tribe of the Iberian Peninsula, living on the north coast of modern Spain, in western Asturias, probably belonging to the Gallaeci and Astur group, and mentioned by Pliny.

The name of the "Albiones" is attested on the "stele of Nicer Clutosi" found near Vegadeo, which has the inscription::☧ NICER CLUTOSI (filius) C(astello) CARIACA PRINCIPIS ALBIONUM AN(norum) LXXV HI(c) S(itus) EST:" Nicer, [son] of Clutoso of the castle [?] of Cariaca, [of the house] of the prince of the Albiones, [died aged] 75 years, lies here."

It has been suggested that the ethnonym as a term for the "Celts of the extreme west" was transferred from Asturias to Great Britain, generally named Albion. Alternatively, there could have been two tribes called "Albiones" (or a single tribe in origin divided by migration), compare the Parisii of France and of Yorkshire (England), or the Brigantes of northern England and of Galicia (Spain).

Both western Iberia and southern Great Britain had been reached by Celtic expansion in the 7th to 6th centuries BC, showing exposure to Hallstatt D but not to La Tène influence.

External links

* [http://www.arqueotavira.com/Mapas/Iberia/Populi.htm Detailed map of the Pre-Roman Peoples of Iberia (around 200 BC)]