Suspect I have been influenced by reading Bronze Age history (approximately 3300 to 1200 BCE). Well, in the Middle East, where we now spend half our time, two thousand years ago is relatively recent history.
So Cyprus, identified on this map as Alisaya,does have recorded history going back into Babylonian period and beyond. Hindered, as in many countries, by the fact that it was not until about 3500 BCE that writing was invented, and so reliance becomes on archaeology, where, happily, new scientific developments have allowed the writing, and frequently the rewriting, of history.
And so to Kilburn, and specifically to Kilburn High Road, about two and a half blocks from where we stay. Kilburn High Road is a small section of a much longer road, one which begins in the east coast at the English Channel ports in Kent and extends to Shropshire in the northwest near the Welsh border. It’s extremely old, probably thousands of years old, but began life as a rough track used by pre-historic Celtic tribes who will have used it for trading and communication.
Would be pleased to know more about the origins of the road but most information begins with the Roman invasion, saying only that they had paved Watling Street, as it was known previously, a dirt track.
The lack of pre-Roman information on the road is more than made up for by available Roman period (a little less than 400 years) and post Roman events. To be continued.
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