The Iron Age in Britain
The People
Iron Age Britain was occupied by different tribes. Worlbeury hillfort, in North Somerset, lay close to the southern limits of the territory of the Dobunni tribe. To the south were the Durotriges, a tribe extending from Dorset, and just across the Bristol Channel in South Wales, were the Silures.
Hillforts
A hillfort is a fortified enclosure which can be of varying size. Hillforts can be univallate where they have one rampart and ditch or multivallate where they have several. Hillforts are found in many parts of Britain and their purpose is debateable. It was probably a combination of military defence, social and economic function and religious belief. Few hillfort interiors have been excavated, but those which have show signs of occupation with religious shrines, huts and storage pits. In North Somerset there are several large hillforts apart from Worlebury. These include Dolebury, Cadbury-Congresbury, Cadbury-Tickenham, Wains Hill and Banwell Camp.
Farmsteads, Caves and Lake Villages
Iron Age people also lived in farmsteads such as that at Christon, North Somerset. Numerous pits and post holes were found here. The finds in the included bone implements and part of a crucible, representing a group typical of domestic and industrial rubbish. The site was occupied from the early to mid Iron Age, prior to the development of Worlebury and Dolebury.
Iron Age people also occupied caves and one noteable example is Reads Cavern, west of Burrington Combe, in North Somerset. Objects, such as cooking pots and quern stones for grinding corn, show what everyday life was like. The lives of the occupants came to a sudden end when an earthquake caused the cave entrance to fall in. The cave remained sealed until 1919 when it was discovered by cavers.
Iron Age people also inhabited the marshy Somerset Levels and lake villages have been located at Glastonbury and Meare. At Glastonbury excavation revealed evidence of houses, sheds and barns, protected by a wooden palisade. The population of the village was probably about 100 people. At Meare excavation revealed two villages which were undefended and consisting of flimsy structures. Occupation here was probably seasonal and in the summer months only.
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Text by Jane Allwood, HTMLised by Stephen Jenkins
Last modified: Tue Apr 16 18:18:47 BST 1996