No doubt an amalgamation of these languages could have occurred over the centuries. Similar types of hill-forts which use stone for their defences can be found in Spain and Portugal, and with some of likewise construction also to be found in Ireland.įurther to the meaning of the Dobunni name, I believe it is quite possible that the language of the Dobunni may well have been closer to the Irish Gaelic than to the Brythonic Welsh supposedly spoken by the Celtic/British Tribes. Meanwhile, the Iberian connection to the Dobunni is further supported by the Beaker pottery sherds and vessels unearthed, and in the style of hill-forts which they left behind, in particular those at Worlebury and Dolebury which use stone in construction of the ramparts. Indeed, one only has to look at the dark-haired Spanish and Portuguese, together with many of the Irish and long term residents of Somerset who still retain the dark hair of the Dobunni to see the connection. Such a tribe would have stood out against the fair-haired Celts who came along later. Putting this simply, the name 'Dobunni' means literally, either (The) 'DARK-HAIRED (ONES) ESTABLISHED (THIS PLACE)' or perhaps just (The) 'DARK-HAIRED PEOPLE'. 'BUNADH' "Boo-Na" = people, inhabitants AND 'BUNAICH' "Boo-Nee" = establish, found, set (up), start. 'DUBH' pronounced "Doo" which means, dark or black-haired. Now, if one was to sound each syllable out, then convert the same sound into the Irish Gaelic spelling, we get the following The spelling of the name 'Dobunni' can no doubt be ascribed to the Roman Latinisation as to the pronunciation of the word. This brings us to the tribal name of 'Dobunni', the meaning of which has never been explained. While this group of Iberians had landed at Brittany and Somerset, further groups set sail towards Ireland and other parts of Southern England and Europe. It may well be that the chief of that time did perhaps take the name of Corio from the name of their forefathers as a mark of respect, or as a way of remembering their ancestors. I should like to suggest that this is in fact stating the origins of the tribe itself. Indeed, the Dobunni are understood to have traded with the Coriosolites of ancient Amorica (Brittany), and the fact that the name of 'Corio' appears on some of the early Dobunnic coinage may be more than a mere coincidence. It is my belief that some of this tribe may have sailed to the coastline of Somerset, thereby beginning the Dobunni. They are also known to have travelled to Brittany, where a tribe known as the Coriosolites existed. The Dobunni Tribe of the North Somerset/Gloucestershire region were originally of Iberian descent, coming from the Bell Beaker people of Spain and Portugal. ![]() Submitted by Arjessa on Wednesday, 19 April 2006 Page Views: 33087 Other Archaeolog圜ountry: England County: Gloucestershire ![]() ![]() The Origins of the Dobunni - 'The Dark-haired people'?
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