CENTURIATION IN ESSEX.
207
by the heavier soil. From the distribution of the Pedestal urns
of these Belgic, folk it may be assumed that the majority of their
settlements occurring beyond the light sandy soils were on the
Eastern London Clay. This large area was more lightly wooded
than the central Boulder Clay region, approximating in the
lightness of its woodland covering to the northern fringe of the
chalky Boulder Clay area. Here, as we have seen, other pedestal
urns have been found. This distribution of settlement seems
to indicate that, whilst forest covering and heaviness of soil
had both been almost insuperable difficulties to earlier pre-
historic, peoples, only the former provided an obstacle to the
La Tene III settlement. We may therefore state with some-
certainty that the standard of agriculture practised in Essex
was sufficiently high to satisfy the requirements of Roman
Centuriation.
For some time before Caesar's first visit the inhabitants of
Essex had been influenced by the Roman civilisation. Indications
also exist in writings of the time to the effect that the resources
of south-east Britain were known with fair certainty; reference
to the corn-growing of the district appearing in both Strabo and
Caesar.4 Caesar had also noticed the "zoning" of the Belgic
and the earlier British settlers.
"Britanniae pars interior ab eis incolitur quos natos in
"insula ipsi memoria proditum dicunt, maritima pars ab
"eis . . . ex Belgia transierant ..." (B.G., v. 12).
It is, however, impossible to gather any detailed information
regarding Essex from Caesar or any other contemporary writer,
but we do know that during the decades immediately preceding
the Roman Conquest rapid strides were made by the south-
eastern British in acquiring Roman habits. The Trinovantes
of Essex had recently come under the rule of Cunobeline, who,
it seems, had received a Roman education at the court of
Augustus.5 We may ascribe the important changes he introduced
into Essex to his probable acquirement of Roman culture.
During his reign the capital of the Cassivellaunian dynasty was
shifted from the vicinity of St. Albans to Camulodunum, near
the present-day Colchester. The reason for such a move is
4 The greatest amount of corn was probably grown in Kent during this period, but it is
probable that Essex contributed no trifling amount to the total production.
5 Geoffrey of Monmouth.