The Archaeology of Britain: An introduction from ... - waughfamily.ca

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