Darêtes

Darêtes were a Celtic tribe who inhabited the region of present-day Cumbria in northwestern England. Their territory was located to the north of the Votadini and south of the Novantae. The primary source of information about the Darêtes comes from the Roman geographer Ptolemy, who mentioned them in his *Geography*. Ptolemy's account is the main basis for understanding their geographical extent and tribal name.

The exact etymology of the name "Darêtes" is uncertain, but it is believed to be of Celtic origin. Like many Celtic tribes in Roman Britain, the Darêtes likely had a tribal structure with chieftains and a warrior class. Their economy would have been based on agriculture and animal husbandry, common to Iron Age societies in Britain. It is probable that they interacted with neighboring tribes, engaging in trade and potentially conflict.

Following the Roman conquest of Britain, the area inhabited by the Darêtes became part of the Roman province of Britannia. Their precise fate under Roman rule is not well-documented. It is possible that they were integrated into the Roman administrative system or that their territory was incorporated into existing Roman civitates. Archaeological evidence from Cumbria, such as hillforts and settlements, provides insights into the broader Iron Age and Roman period cultures of the region, which would have included the Darêtes. The specific archaeological footprint of the Darêtes as a distinct group remains a subject of ongoing study and interpretation by historians and archaeologists.