International Trade

There was a program on last night about a small Iron Age settlement in the fens that burned down suddenly. The preservation was incredible and among the finds were glass beads from the Mediterranean – the Po valley IIRC. Wherever it was the area was dedicated to manufacturing all sorts of fancy goods and they found lumps of glass with the pincer marks still in them. The techniques were pretty much as they are now (but no glass blowing). Bronze items found in Germany were made of local copper and Cornish tin.

They found a load of bronze swords, most had clearly used in anger by the nicks – plus a palisade around the settlement with many iron spear points – which puts paid to the theory they were show off items. Often described as the sports cars of the day owned only by the rich it seems they were no such thing.

The architecture of the settlement was very similar to those found in European wet areas – Lake Constance and the Dutch rivers for example – leading to the theory they were migrants from Europe who knew how to live in these landscapes. Why did they live on the water and not the land? Control of trade as the rivers were the motorways of the day plus safety. Not that it helped this settlement, it seems the fire was not a domestic accident.

As the finds could clearly be associated with a dwelling they found that there was a lot more going on than previously thought. Each house had 3 to 4 bronze axes, scythes (still sharp) and all sorts of other tools, plus the swords (still gleaming and sharp). There was also a lot of textile manufacture happening at all stages, not just weaving, and the quality was very fine indeed.

Fascinating stuff.