CENTURIATION IN ESSEX.
205
invaders had achieved a far higher standard of agricultural
knowledge than is generally realised, and the settlements of these
people in Britain warrant a much closer consideration than
writers have so far accorded them. These Belgic folk initiated
important changes in the agriculture of south-east Britain, for
it was during their settlement of the country that the heavy
coulter plough first made its appearance in the Island. This
implement, apparently evolved in Northern Europe enabled the
husbandman to cultivate the heavier soils, since the iron blade
was sufficiently strong to deal with such soils, whilst the different
shape of the plough allowed of its being propelled by draught
animals. Before its introduction the land had been tilled by
means of a hoe-like hand plough which necessitated double
ploughing. The slight depth to which this last-named instrument
penetrated the ground required the cultivator to plough his
field laterally as well as lengthways in order to turn the soil
over sufficiently. This method resulted in fields of a characteristic
shape. Every passage of the plough across the field necessitated
a turning at the end of the furrow so that it was economically
sound to have the sides of the field of such a length that the
great number of turns resulting from double ploughing would
be as few as possible. The shape fulfilling these requirements
was a square. These 'Celtic Fields,' as they have been named,
were usually small, since large scale agriculture was beyond the
means of early man.
The use of the coulter plough in south-east Britain marked
the end of the Celtic Fields. The size of the plough and the
difficulty of turning, required the new type of field to be very
long in one direction, whilst the efficiency of the blade did away
with any need for double ploughing, making width a minor
consideration. In this long field with a baulk at its head to
allow the cumbersome plough to turn we have the inauguration
of the large field system with its series of strip fields. Moreover
the efficiency of the coulter plough allowed soils of a different
character to be worked. The majority of the Celtic Fields had
been confined to light soil areas for obvious reasons.
Coulter ploughshares of differing size and weight have been
found scattered throughout south-east England and particularly
in Essex, their dimensions being related to the heaviness of the