AW Hello Nancy and thank you for being here. Writing about times 2000 years ago... umm it’s all a bit of guesswork, isn’t it?
NJ Well, no, not totally. That's a question and an answer that are pertinent to writing historical fiction in a period that’s considered to be pre-historic - though my era of choice is actually on the cusp!
AW So, what, exactly, does pre-historic mean?
NJ Essentially, for me, the term covers the period before written sources were created.
AW So, why is your writing on the cusp?
NJ Well, no, not totally. That's a question and an answer that are pertinent to writing historical fiction in a period that’s considered to be pre-historic - though my era of choice is actually on the cusp!
AW So, what, exactly, does pre-historic mean?
NJ Essentially, for me, the term covers the period before written sources were created.
AW So, why is your writing on the cusp?
NJ My
Celtic Fervour Series of historical novels are set in late first century A.D.
(CE), northern Roman Britain (from Yorkshire northwards into Scotland): a time
and location that’s not covered by many authors. It’s easy to see why because it initially seems like there isn’t
much material to research to ensure a story is as realistic as possible without
veering into the realm of a fantasy.
There are sources like Cornelius Tacitus’ Agricola, and occasional references in the work of other Ancient
Roman writers about late first century northern Roman Britain but all of these
prime sources need to be used with caution as their accuracy is considered to
be lacking in historical terms. The
works I refer to were never intended to be an actual historical record, they
were written for something more like political propaganda or entertainment,
often both at the same time.
AW How interesting!
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| The Celtic Fervour books |
NJ More
was known about Iron Age tribes in Europe during the late first century, so
some interpretations for the tribes of northern Roman Britain are
extrapolations based on scant evidence.
Even calling my novels the ‘Celtic Fervour Series’ throws up problems
for some people who don’t like my use of that generic term for tribes living in
my location. Other experts conclude
that there’s sufficient evidence about the daily life in ‘Aberdeenshire’ to
broadly term them ‘Celtic’ tribes. What
I know is that to describe my series it’s much easier to say ‘Celtic Fervour Series’ than ‘Roman Britain Iron Age Tribes Series’.
AW I couldn't agree more!
NJ Not
having a lot to go on initially is what I love about writing in this era
because, although it’s extremely hard work, there’s always something new to
discover that’s ‘under the surface’.
Every other word I write in my work in progress throws up a mystery that
needs to be solved first. (Perhaps
that’s why I also write contemporary mysteries?) Simple examples might be: Can I say that my Roman Scotland Iron
Age characters are tucking into bread every day? That sounds pretty normal but was it usual two thousand years ago
in what is now Aberdeenshire, Scotland?
I can’t write that in my novel before I check. If it’s a Scottish setting would they be nibbling on oatcakes and
cheese? Check! What kind of animals
would they be hunting for food?
Check! Did they eat the
plentiful fish from local rivers and lochs?
Check! Were there forests nearby for hunting boar or deer? Check!
What was the weather like?
Check!
AW Hmm, I see what you mean.
NJ Today,
specialist scientific disciplines, used in conjunction with archaeology, have
interpreted that the farmers in ‘Aberdeenshire’ of 2000 years ago ‘tended’ more
stretches of grazing for sheep than they cultivated fields of grain. The wheat of today wasn’t grown in
Aberdeenshire though they did grow some spelt - an earlier form of wheat -
according to soil deposit samples. However, the main cereal crops were ‘6 row’
barley and, to a lesser extent, oats (field
core samples and midden heap faeces sampling). So, my characters
could perhaps have the occasional bit of
unleavened spelt bread and eating some kind of oatcake is probable. Brose or soup is thought to be the most likely
daily food made from barley, oats or a mixture of both (again faeces samples from midden heaps backs this up). Vegetables for soup were rare and not what
I’d be buying in the supermarket today.
Fat hen (we’d call that weeds) was used as was a type of wild garlic but
most of the vegetables of today aren’t indigenous. The Romans actually introduced some of today’s veggies to
Britannia but since I write about the Roman invasions it’s too early to refer
to my ‘Celts’ eating leeks, cabbage, peas or onions, though my Romans can tuck
into some assuming their supplies have not been attacked by my resourceful
Celts.
AW Again, something else I didn't know!
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| Nancy's experimental baking - unfortunately there was none for me to try! |
AW Again, something else I didn't know!
NJ You
can read more of the aspects that I need to constantly check for my 2000 years
ago setting on my own blog. Finding out that spelt was being
grown by my ‘Aberdeenshire’ Iron Age tribes 2000 years ago was interesting but
what was really exciting during my research was finding that a local
Aberdeenshire farmer is currently growing spelt
as a trial because it is a highly nutritious form of wheat and good for people
who cannot tolerate high intensities of gluten. Spelt has a
considerably lower gluten content.
AW Have you tried it?
AW Have you tried it?
NJ I
bought some spelt flour and so far
have made scones and pancakes. When I
can clear some more time for experimental baking, I’ll try some bread! There's more about my spelt baking Here and Here
... about the books My Celtic Fervour Series published by Crooked Cat Books will no longer
be available after the end of February 2018, though they will return soon under
a slightly different guise. Look out
for new versions later in the spring!
My Crooked Cat Books contemporary mysteries are definitely available
just now, easily seen via my author page below.
