The Island of Minerals: Carthaginians in Britain
At a time when Carthage was at the height of its power, Carthaginian ships sailed the Atlantic to Spain and northern Europe to purchase silver and other metals that were abundant in the region. Their final destination was distant Britain, where some Carthaginian merchants were stationed to facilitate metal trade. Remnants of this Carthaginian presence can still be found in Britain to this day: coins, and even place names of possible Punic origin.
Battersea Shield, British Poodle Bronze Shield
From the first few centuries after the founding of Carthage, the city established trade links with the Tartsians in Spain to purchase minerals from them. In addition to gold and silver, demand was higher for tin and copper, which were used to produce bronze. Thanks to its monopoly on the Atlantic tin market, Carthage became the only major producer of bronze in the region. Around the fifth century BC, the Carthaginians' increasing need for more minerals led them to explore the coasts of northern Europe, all the way to Britain.
Punic coins can be found all over Britain (see map), mostly in coastal areas, but also inland, showing that Carthaginian merchants did not stay along the coasts, but rather traveled throughout the island. After the fall of Carthage, they were replaced by Numidian merchants. Numidian coins were found in Britain dating back to the reign of King Masinissa and his successors until Yuba II (see map).
The latest coins were also found in the north, indicating that Numidian traders moved north over time.
A piece of anchor found in the sea near Plymouth (Source: ProMare)
Another possible piece of evidence for a Punic presence in Britain is a Mediterranean-type anchor, dating from between the 5th and 2nd centuries BC, which was discovered near Plymouth, on the Cornwall peninsula, an area with large tin deposits. The anchor belonged to a ship, perhaps Punic or perhaps Greek, that had anchored in Cornwall.
A skull of a Barbary macaque was discovered at Imhain Mahsha in Ireland. These animals, which originate from the Atlas Mountains, were sold as pets. It is certain that Carthaginian merchants brought this monkey to that place.
Isle of Thanet
Certain place names, in Britain and Ireland, also appear to have Punic roots. The most obvious is the Isle of Thanet, Kent: its name could be derived from Thanet, the chief Carthaginian goddess. Gades (Cadiz), the first Carthaginian colony in Spain, was also built on an island called Tanit Island. It is possible that the Carthaginian merchants who settled there gave this name to the island because of its geographical similarity to Gadis.
Historian and archaeologist Caitlin Green, who teaches at the University of Cambridge, has written a series of detailed research articles on the Punic and Numidian presence in pre-Roman Britain. A list of 15 names of places with possible Punic origins has been prepared. All of these places are located on the British coast, and many of them are islands. Including the Isles of Scilly, Sark, one of the English Channel Islands; And the Scottish Hebrides.
Caitlin Green's map of these places shows them divided into two groups: one on the south coast, especially Kent and around the Cornwall peninsula, and the other to the north, in modern-day Scotland. The presence of Carthaginian merchants in southern Britain, where they first arrived, makes a lot of sense, especially in Cornwall which was at that time a major tin producing area. The fact that they also settled in the Scottish Isles, although more surprising, may be explained by the proximity of large tin deposits.
Finally, a Punic etymology has been suggested for the names of Britain and Ireland: Britain could come from Britan, meaning "tin" in Punic, while Ireland (*Ewerion in Old Celtic) could come from Eurigu, "island of copper". Of course, there are other potential assets. However, the complementarity of the two proposed names, the Land of Tin and the Island of Copper, the two minerals used in the manufacture of bronze, makes this theory particularly interesting. While most specialists believe that the names of Britain and Ireland have Punic roots, the possibility of Punic origin should not be dismissed too quickly.
Source: websites