The Archaeology of Britain: An introduction from ... - waughfamily.ca
The Archaeology of Britain: An introduction from ... - waughfamily.ca
The Archaeology of Britain: An introduction from ... - waughfamily.ca
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>The</strong> Iron Age<br />
• 131 •<br />
OVERSEAS CONTACTS AND THE WIDER EUROPEAN CONTEXT<br />
Despite obvious differences, the rhythm <strong>of</strong> British Iron Age developments displays signifi<strong>ca</strong>nt<br />
parallels with the near Continent (Haselgrove 1998). As in the Later Bronze Age, metalwork<br />
types indi<strong>ca</strong>te close ties between leading elements <strong>of</strong> society on either side <strong>of</strong> the Channel,<br />
through which techni<strong>ca</strong>l and stylistic innovations were transmitted. Some supposed differences<br />
are more apparent than real: recognizable Iron Age burial rites are absent or discontinuous in<br />
many continental areas.<br />
<strong>The</strong> southern coastline and that <strong>of</strong> much <strong>of</strong> East <strong>An</strong>glia face the Continent, linking these<br />
areas into wider European patterns by relatively short sea crossings. As the Fenland basin presented<br />
an obstacle to overland travel, an enduring pattern <strong>of</strong> maritime contact also developed up the<br />
eastern English coastline. <strong>The</strong> configuration <strong>of</strong> the western coast makes the Irish Sea one <strong>of</strong> its<br />
principal unifying features and creates a corridor for communi<strong>ca</strong>tion with coastal regions <strong>from</strong><br />
Brittany to Galicia (Cunliffe 1995).<br />
By the Late Iron Age, sea-going plank boats with sails—known <strong>from</strong> Caesar’s description <strong>of</strong><br />
Breton vessels and <strong>from</strong> representations on British coins—were in use around British shores;<br />
earlier in the Iron Age, hide craft were probably the dominant form. Substantial logboats like that<br />
<strong>from</strong> Hasholme (East Yorkshire), which could <strong>ca</strong>rry over 5 tonnes <strong>of</strong> <strong>ca</strong>rgo, plied inland waterways.<br />
Probable Iron Age ports with continental links include Hengistbury Head, Dorset, and Mount<br />
Batten on Plymouth Sound.<br />
In temperate Europe, advanced iron technology <strong>ca</strong>me into common use during the Hallstatt<br />
C period (c.750–625 BC). North-west Europe shares the sudden decline in the hoarding and<br />
ritual deposition <strong>of</strong> metalwork apparent in <strong>Britain</strong>. Insular Hallstatt C innovations are confined<br />
to new sword types (still <strong>of</strong> copper alloy) and the import <strong>of</strong> horse gear and objects such as razors.<br />
During Hallstatt D (c.625–450 BC), southern British weaponry followed continental fashions,<br />
with daggers replacing the sword, while bow brooches began to be used for fastening clothes<br />
instead <strong>of</strong> ring-headed pins. With Belgium and northern France, southern <strong>Britain</strong> formed a zone<br />
that was oc<strong>ca</strong>sionally penetrated by prestige goods <strong>from</strong> the Mediterranean, like the Etrus<strong>ca</strong>n<br />
beaked flagon <strong>from</strong> near Northampton and the Attic red-figure kylix recovered <strong>from</strong> the Thames<br />
near Reading. <strong>The</strong>se exoti<strong>ca</strong> presumably arrived through gift exchange via southern Germany or<br />
eastern France.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Early La Tène period (c.450–325 BC) is marked by the re-<strong>introduction</strong> <strong>of</strong> long swords<br />
and the emergence <strong>of</strong> a new art style. A number <strong>of</strong> regions including East Yorkshire exhibit close<br />
continental links at this time. Contact between Brittany and south-west England is shown by<br />
pottery with stamped and rouletted ornamentation, and later with elaborate designs derived <strong>from</strong><br />
Early La Tène metalwork (Cunliffe 1995). In south-east England, ceramic assemblages included<br />
angular tripartite bowls, some with low pedestal bases, which closely re<strong>ca</strong>ll contemporary north<br />
French developments.<br />
Continental influence diminished noticeably, but did not cease, during Middle La Tène (c.325–<br />
150 BC). Innovations in sword technology and art styles indi<strong>ca</strong>te continuing contact. Increased<br />
regionalism is a feature <strong>of</strong> much <strong>of</strong> Europe at this period: most communities be<strong>ca</strong>me less open<br />
to emulating outside fashions; <strong>Britain</strong> is no exception. Here, highly decorated regional pottery<br />
styles have no obvious external counterparts. British brooch types, including involuted and<br />
decorated forms, also diverged markedly <strong>from</strong> continental forms. Many <strong>of</strong> the masterpieces <strong>of</strong><br />
insular La Tène art, like the Witham and Wandsworth shields, date to this time.<br />
A major feature <strong>of</strong> the Late La Tène period (c.150–20 BC) was the arrival <strong>of</strong> the first Roman<br />
imports, principally Dressel 1 wine amphorae and metal drinking services. At this stage there was<br />
still virtually no direct contact with the Roman world, and these goods were evidently introduced