The Iron Age period
The next big discovery was how to smelt and forge iron. This was much more difficult than working bronze, but tools made from iron are much stronger and sharper. Tools are still mostly made from iron today. Bronze and other copper alloys were still used for jewellery, horse harness and equipment for carts and chariots, as they did not rust and they looked lovely. Many Iron Age objects were also enamelled in bright colours.
The Iron Age lasted right up to the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD, but from as early as about 50 BC some people in Britain were being influenced by Roman culture. The wealthiest people brought wine, food and luxury goods into Britain from Gaul and Italy . The most powerful and wealthy people were the kings who ruled over parts of the South East of Britain. By about 10AD they had begun to make coins with their heads and names on. These coins copied Roman coins and are very similar in style to the coins that we use today. But even after the Romans had conquered Britain , many aspects of Iron Age life did not change. For the ordinary farmers and craftsmen of Britain life would have carried on as before.
Iron Age finds from England and Wales
- IRON AGE Coin : WAW-DAFD76
- IRON AGE Brooch : SUR-D940C4
- IRON AGE Brooch : HAMP-D604F3
- IRON AGE coin : SWYOR-D44D95
- IRON AGE Brooch : HAMP-D3A3B0
- IRON AGE Cosmetic mortar : HAMP-C29105
- IRON AGE coin : SF-AD4148
- IRON AGE Brooch : WAW-9B2FF7
- IRON AGE Coin : ESS-942681
- IRON AGE coin : SF-544275
- IRON AGE HARNESS FITTING : NMS-42E413
- IRON AGE Toggle : LON-1A6571
- IRON AGE Mount : WILT-05FD81
- IRON AGE Strap fitting : YORYM-AE34F6
- IRON AGE Coin : YORYM-ADF1B1
- IRON AGE VESSEL : NMS-865CC5
- IRON AGE STRAP FITTING : YORYM-1889A6
- IRON AGE COIN : YORYM-043274
- IRON AGE Brooch : BH-B0BB10
- IRON AGE coin : LEIC-5DBA05
