We tend to see springs as objects to be exploited for human needs, and in doing so often ignore the signs they “send” us. For example, spring water is generally blue because of the scattering of white light in water that contains carbonate nanoparticles. These particles are extremely small and invisible to the naked eye, but they can break apart or dissolve. When that happens, the water no longer appears blue or turquoise. Blue or turquoise water is an indicator that a spring is still “virgin”, rarely or never touched by human hands.
Changes in temperature and the absorption of carbon dioxide produced by human activity around a spring can cause the loss of its bluish-green color, especially when people bathe or swim directly in the source. Changes in water discharge, and especially the drying up or disappearance of a spring, signal alterations in the surrounding land that serves as a recharge area. Common causes include deforestation or the conversion of water catchment areas into settlements or agricultural land.
The Celts were an ancient Indo-European people who regarded water and springs as sacred, alongside similar reverence for the sky and the earth. This Iron Age group (1200–500 BCE) was known for their exceptional skill in crafting weapons and works of art, as well as for their resilience in warfare. Water was inseparable from their daily activities. When forging a sword, for instance, a blacksmith would plunge the blade into water to cool it and inspect the result before handing it over to the warrior who commissioned it.
Wounded Celtic warriors used water from specific springs to aid healing, a tradition that modern Celtic communities continue to uphold to this day. It is therefore unsurprising that sacred springs and holy wells are among the most important remnants of Celtic heritage. The Fosse Dionne in Tonnerre, France, is one such spring, first discovered and used by the Celts before becoming the main household water source for the surrounding town.
Meanwhile, Steinsbörnchen in North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany, can be considered one of the oldest springs associated with Celtic civilization. There is also well preserved Tobar na Croise Naofa (the Well of the Holy Cross) in Dunmore, Ireland, which continues to serve its ancient function as a place associated with healing.
Extinct Because They Were “Too Kind”?
Many people, including Europeans themselves, mistakenly believe that the Celts originated in the British Isles. Historical records show that Central Europe was in fact the homeland of this warrior people. They once inhabited regions that are now Austria, Germany, Poland, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. In addition to warfare, they were skilled in agriculture and animal husbandry. Before becoming a warrior society, the ancestors of the Celts were nomadic pastoralists.
Aside from the Gauls in southern France, the Celts were among the peoples who refused to acknowledge the Roman Empire as the ruler of continental Europe. They continued to resist, despite being outnumbered and lacking a unifying political bond. As a result of prolonged warfare, the Celtic population began to decline. Their villages were left inhabited only by those who did not go to war: the elderly and children. Celtic women were also said to have joined men in battle, leaving their children in the care of guardians.
Amid these circumstances, Germanic tribes from Northern Europe migrated into Central Europe in search of warmer lands. They arrived in waves, bringing not only their belongings but also their own language and culture. Why did the Celts not feel threatened by the presence of these northern migrants? It is possible that they were already exhausted by war, or that they were seeking allies against the Roman Empire.
The outcome was already set in motion. This decision would later become the starting point of the end of the Celtic era in Central Europe. Differences in language and culture can make people uncomfortable, even today. As a result, some Celts chose to seek quieter lands away from the newcomers. They moved westward into what is now France, while others sailed to the islands now known as Great Britain and Ireland.
However, some Celts chose not to migrate west and instead remained in their homeland. They attempted to survive by adapting to the new situation, assimilating with the Germanic tribes. This included learning the newcomers’ language and customs and forming family ties through marriage. Over time, the Germanic character proved more dominant, while the Celts were fewer in number. Gradually, the Celtic language and culture that once dominated Central Europe were abandoned, until they eventually disappeared altogether.
After The Fall
The good news is that the Celts who migrated to the British Isles (and to France) appear to have succeeded in building new lives, preserving the ancient language and culture that their kin in Germany had left behind.
How was this possible? Did not the Celts of the British Isles, like those in Central Europe, eventually meet their “end”, swept away by modern civilization?
The ancient tribal structure of Celtic society, which lacked a single supreme leader such as a king, has indeed been abandoned. Once again, adaptation is the key to survival. This does not mean completely discarding ways of life or values that once played a vital role in sustaining a community and maintaining balance with the natural world.
Celtic vocabulary and dialects live on in several local languages used in everyday conversation among the Six Nations that inherit Celtic culture: Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany (France), Cornwall (England), and the Isle of Man. Native Celtic beliefs have been reconstructed and are still practiced today, particularly by descendants of the druids, the priests or spiritual leaders of the ancient Celtic faith.
Ireland, as one of the islands where the Celts once landed, still has around 3,000 springs and holy wells. To this day, they continue to flow and remain in good condition. (dswas)
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