AGE BRONZE AGE IRON Ambrus Victor by Artwork
Age Iron Early Age Bronze Early Age Iron Late Age Iron Middle Age Bronze Late Age Bronze Middle
43 AD BC 400 BC 700 BC 1000 BC 1500 BC 2200
begins construction Hillfort develop systems Field
sheet) fact and reports lithics (includes
- Group Prehistoric Surrey www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/groups/prehistory
Council District
mainly gold, but also also but gold, mainly – metals
© St Albans Albans St ©
books/publications/ books/publications/ - historicengland.org.uk/images
coin tray tray coin
and wheat sheafs), with a mix of of mix a with sheafs), wheat and
- PDFs) online as guides intro (many publications England Historic
Late Iron Age Age Iron Late
varied (e.g. horses, wheels, spirals spirals wheels, horses, (e.g. varied Archaeology)
World in Studies (Blackwell Britain Prehistoric (2008) ed. J. Pollard, molten metal into moulds. The images were were images The moulds. into metal molten
Heritage) (English Britain Age Bronze (1993) M. Pearson, Parker made of iron/bronze to strike an image, or by pouring the the pouring by or image, an strike to iron/bronze of made
District Farnham the of Prehistory the of Survey A (1939) al. et K.P. Oakley, were made by using a punch or die die or punch a using by made were – BC century 2nd the in
Past Surrey’s of exploration archaeological an Depths: Hidden (2002) R. Hunt, imported from the continent continent the from imported – Britain in coins earliest The
Archaeology) World (Routledge Britain Prehistoric (2010) T. Darvil,
steel. into it turning effectively iron, the cool rapidly
sources further Some
with charcoal, as the carbon content was transferred to to transferred was content carbon the as charcoal, with
place. The iron could be strengthened however if reheated reheated if however strengthened be could iron The place.
Claudius Emperor Roman by invaded Britain - 43 AD
requires specially designed furnaces, before forging took took forging before furnaces, designed specially requires
their sights on the island. island. the on sights their
Empire Roman the with contact close with leaders
much more difficult than copper and tin smelting, as iron iron as smelting, tin and copper than difficult more much
no doubt appealed to the Romans who would come to set set to come would who Romans the to appealed doubt no
powerful by controlled was Britain east - South - 1 AD
The extraction of usable metal from oxidized iron ores was was ores iron oxidized from metal usable of extraction The
BC, attesting to the overall wealth and thriving industry which which industry thriving and wealth overall the to attesting BC, emerge to begin Colchester
era, as does the introduction of coinage by the 2nd century century 2nd the by coinage of introduction the does as era, stronger. even alloy the and Silchester as such settlements ‘oppida’ Large - BC 50
also characterises this this characterises also – weapons and tools both of making 1000 BC (later Bronze Age), lead was also included, making making included, also was lead Age), Bronze (later BC 1000 campaign Gaulish his of part as
which was used in the the in used was which – ore iron of mining The period. Age it slower to set and easier to pour into moulds. By about about By moulds. into pour to easier and set to slower it Britain to expeditions two made Caesar Julius - BC 54 - 55
aspects, with much of the forest cleared by the end of the Iron Iron the of end the by cleared forest the of much with aspects, in the Early Bronze Age, and its lower melting point made made point melting lower its and Age, Bronze Early the in wealth of tokens as used be to began bars Iron - BC 100
animal husbandry and agriculture were particularly important important particularly were agriculture and husbandry animal
was cast cast was – alloy tin 10% and copper 90% typically – Bronze England SE of elite amongst developed Coins - BC 150
from marketing and exchange to livestock movement, and and movement, livestock to exchange and marketing from
was discovered that additives like tin created a harder alloy. alloy. harder a created tin like additives that discovered was
Helmet)
tribal territories. These centres served multiple functions, functions, multiple served centres These territories. tribal before it it before – BC) 3500 - (4500 Age Chalcolithic or ‘Copper’ Waterloo and Shield Battersea (e.g. objects decorative
attested to elite control of the the of control elite to attested – Worldham Hill, John’s St or in the the in – tools into created be to metal first the was Copper skilled highly create smiths bronze and Gold - BC 200
such as at Caesar’s Camp, Farnham Farnham Camp, Caesar’s at as such – hillforts and landscape,
Britain reach techniques working - Iron - BC 800
Dilley James © imperfections remove to polished and ‘chased’ be can it
homesteads and roundhouses were now scattered across the the across scattered now were roundhouses and homesteads
is heated in a crucible and then poured into the moulds, where after about an hour hour an about after where moulds, the into poured then and crucible a in heated is built be to began hillforts First - BC 800
by bellows to the appropriate temperature (1000°C); meanwhile, the molten bronze bronze molten the meanwhile, (1000°C); temperature appropriate the to bellows by By the beginning of the Iron Age (around 700 BC), farms, farms, BC), 700 (around Age Iron the of beginning the By
tools working - wood effective be to
Moulds for artefacts (in this case a sword) are placed on the clay hearth and heated heated and hearth clay the on placed are sword) a case this (in artefacts for Moulds
began. territories tribal into organisation period, the of end the prove and appear axes ‘socketed’ Lighter - BC 800 - 1500
houses becoming the main form of domestic building, and by by and building, domestic of form main the becoming houses houses - round and fields of out laying the settlements,
field systems and open settlements developed, with round- with developed, settlements open and systems field open alongside appear, cremation grave - Flat - BC 1500
likely associated with the local barrows. From about 1,500 BC, BC, 1,500 about From barrows. local the with associated likely Wales and Ireland
in dug are mines copper scale - industrial First - BC 1800 in the many ritual deposits of bronze weapons and ornaments ornaments and weapons bronze of deposits ritual many the in
perhaps most characteristic of the period, which can be seen seen be can which period, the of characteristic most perhaps landscapes ceremonial and barrows
elaborate of period and Culture Wessex - BC 1600 - 2200 flintwork does continue, the development of metalwork is is metalwork of development the continue, does flintwork
is prominent in the area’s surrounding heathland. Although Although heathland. surrounding area’s the in prominent is tools for material main the as stone replaces gradually
and tin and copper mixing by made first is Bronze - BC 2200 known as round barrows, are a particular development which which development particular a are barrows, round as known
practices, although burials underneath earthen mounds, mounds, earthen underneath burials although practices, Stonehenge near dies Archer’ ‘Amesbury - BC 2300 manufacturing. local indicate would which crucibles as such
The early Bronze Age is closer to the Late Neolithic in many many in Neolithic Late the to closer is Age Bronze early The working - metal gold and copper as such technology rather than the furnaces and tools tools and furnaces the than rather – heads - axe or coins –
and objects rites, burial new including continent, the only artefacts so far discovered are of the finished items items finished the of are discovered far so artefacts only the Ages. Iron and Bronze the comprising mainly 43),
the from arrive culture Beaker the of Elements - BC 2400
Bronze and Iron Age is not as certain as other periods, as as periods, other as certain as not is Age Iron and Bronze era from the Stone Age to the coming of the Romans (AD (AD Romans the of coming the to Age Stone the from era
Timeline Evidence for crafting with metal in the Farnham area in the the in area Farnham the in metal with crafting for Evidence The Late Prehistoric period is generally seen as the transitional transitional the as seen generally is period Prehistoric Late The
period Prehistoric Late The working - Metal 43 AD - BC 2,500
Want to learn about Find out more about Farnham’s unique past Late Prehistoric Farnham Danebury Hill Fort, Hants, c. 550-100 BC The Museum of Farnham is an accredited and award- winning museum situated within the Georgian Grade I-listed Willmer House. Within its local studies library the Late Prehistoric period? and stores it holds the largest collection of archives The prehistoric period in Britain is such a substantial length of from the area, and it runs temporary exhibitions and time – almost 100,000 years – that it is difficult to visualise some events throughout the year, including the regular of the more complex themes and cultural changes which took lecture series organised by the Museum Society. place very gradually over time. The last two thousand years of www.farnhammaltings.com/museum prehistory – largely the Bronze and Iron Ages – can be easy to generalise, and many important developments – besides merely the introduction of metallurgy – also took place, although these are often overlooked at the expense of the Stone Age and Roman era either side. Looking at Late Prehistory in the primary curriculum helps develop a good chronological understanding of British history however, laying the foundations for later periods covered in Key Stage 2. It is also be a great way to focus on object-based learning through its wealth of visual and artefactual Much of what we know about Farnham’s early past material, and depending on the activities chosen, lessons can comes from the work of local archaeologists in the also easily tie into Art, Drama and English work. Surrey Archaeological Society, who run fieldwork and heritage outreach projects in the Farnham area, Suggested sources (a good internet search will result in more!) Historic England’s educational resources - historicengland.org.uk/ including the community dig Finding Farnham. services-skills/education www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk BBC Teach Iron Age Britain - www.bbc.com/teach/class-clips-video/ history-ks2-iron-age-britain-animation/z42d7nb Ancient Craft Three Age Experience - www.ancientcraft.co.uk Other links Schools Prehistory and Archaeology - www.schoolsprehistory.co.uk Farnham & District Museum Society - www.farnhammuseumsociety.org.uk The Farnham Society - farnhamsociety.org.uk Young Archaeologists’ Club - www.yac-uk.org Surrey History Centre - www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre Local loans boxes are also available from the Museum, Surrey Surrey Heritage (Exploring Surrey’s Past) - www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk Archaeological Society and Surrey County Archaeological Unit Wrecclesham History project - wreccleshamhistory.wordpress.com Hidden Heritage Hale History project - www.halehistoryproject.co.uk Activity ideas: Rural Life Centre - rural-life.org.uk Butser Ancient Farm - www.butserancientfarm.co.uk A local archaeological & heritage Guildford Museum - guildford.gov.uk/museum Curtis & Aldershot Military Museum - www.hampshireculture.org.uk guide to Farnham’s buried past
For more information, images and pdfs of leaflets visit www.farnham.gov.uk/hiddenheritage
Layout a timeline (to scale!) farnhamofficial of the prehistoric period up Published by Farnham Town Council Surrey to the modern day Farnham & District Archaeological and devised and designed by Anne Sassin © 2019 Museum Society Society
3 4
D Iron Age earthworks 18 Iron Age burial urn from Habitation in the Iron Age A 16
Late Prehistoric - Stoneyfield pit, containing
16 One of the monuments we most associate with the Iron Age Most of the evidence we have of Iron Age C calcined bones (© SyAS)
B are earthworks known as hillforts, which first appear from the local occupation sites comes from pottery,
0 22
0 9th century BC but become more common by the 6th c. They with little in the way of actual objects of iron.
Farnham ,5 2 2 usually consist of a rampart and a ditch and are regarded as However, excavations at the site at Tongham communal centres of permanent occupation, able to be Nurseries included loomweights, animal bones defended in the instance of war. 16 Rampart and ditch at and even a log ladder, attesting to how Bronze Age flint implements Though prominent, the area’s hillforts western end of Caesar’s advanced domestic technology was at this time. are dated by their form alone, rather Camp, whose excavation Occasionally, sites are also revealed by their Although material from the Early Bronze Age in the Farnham area is rare, in 1970 revealed its
than any finds. phased change from 18 layout, particularly through cropmarks. the number of flint objects from this period – which were common and 17 single to multi-vallate continued in use despite the invention of metallurgy – suggests more sites 17 Bank and ditch form and features such did once exist, possibly destroyed from centuries of later cultivation. of the single-bank as a palisade (© N Riall, 20 Iron Age (univallate) Soldier’s Hampshire Field Club & brooch from 3 Barbed and tanged arrowhead 3 Ring, Crooksbury Archaeological Society) 16 Fairfield (Drawing found east of Frensham, like 20 by A Graham) 2 many collected as surface finds 1 in the Tilford and Frensham 19 10 19 19 area (Photo by D Graham) 1 Early Bronze Age 19 Belgic pottery from the Bourne Mill plano-convex flint Spring site (A W G Lowther) knife found in 1936 2 Polished knife from the Ranges barrow site, near Bricksbury Hill, on Burnt Hill (© A which has since been destroyed by gravel digging (A Survey of the 21 Iron Age banjo enclosure (and Graham) Prehistory of the Farnham District © Canon O’Farrell) Bronze Age cross-dyke) at Itchen Wood, 12 Hampshire (Photo by D Graham) 7 20 21 9 22 Artist’s impression of Iron Age settlement Bronze Age barrows 22 at Tongham showing Burial mounds known as round barrows are one of the site types which are assumed to have once been 17 various roundhouses common in the region, with a small number dated from the flint implements found nearby. There is 8 and ditched enclosures evidence for a group of bowl barrows – the most common form of round barrows – at the Ranges, 18 13 (© Surrey County near Bricksbury Hill, Charles Hill, east of Crooksbury, and Frensham Common, amongst other sites. Archaeological Unit) 4 Aerial photo of 15 ploughed-out barrow in the Belgic gold coins landscape (Hants) and restoration of In terms of artefacts, the Iron Age coinage struck from precious metals are barrows in 1996 on certainly the best known from the area, in particular the gold coins known as Kings Ridge, staters. The earliest coins are thought to not have been used as currency but between the Great rather as items to be exchanged between the local rulers or even buried in the and Little Ponds 1 on Frensham ground as gifts to the gods. 4 4 Common (Photos The largest hoard from the area is from north Farnham and consisted of nine by D Graham) Gallo-Belgic gold staters, the first two of which were found by a detectorist in 6 5 Trench section from Warren Hill barrow, Frensham the 1980s and the remainder during the small-scale excavation which followed. Common, showing its alternating bands of white sand and leafy organic material (Photo by D Graham) 23 Excavation of gold staters from the Farnham 6 Heathland barrow at 5 3 area (Photo by David Thursley Common, once Graham) 6 assumed to have been a natural sand dune, where 24 excavation revealed its turf construction, environmental 24 Gold stater of Atrebatic type B and dating evidence showing it had to 55-45 BC, showing an abstract head of been made in a clearing, and Apollo (left) and disjointed horse over an a possible pit burial (bottom 6 5 eight-spoked wheel (right) (Photo by David right) (Photos by D 23 Graham) 6 Graham) 14 3
Late Bronze Age hoards
Bronze Age burial vessels 10 Late Bronze Age Objects of bronze – the material from which the period gets Metal Detecting 7 Early/Middle cremation with urn found Bronze Age Pottery vessels were common grave inverted over the remains in its name – are known from a handful of hoards and stray If undertaken responsibly, detecting can vessel from goods and – in addition to 1930 during gravel digging finds in the area, most of which are late in date. Unlike make important contributions to our Dippenhall, 14 occupation sites – are the main at Junction Pit, possibly those of the Bordon area, the Farnham hoards are small and archaeological knowledge. Detectorists possibly a burial once covered by a barrow evidence we have for the Middle/ 10 lack evidence for ingots. furnishing (A 9 mound (A W G Lowther) 13 Socketed and palstave axe from the 14 Hankley are reminded that it is illegal to trespass – 7 W G Lowther) Late Bronze Age. Crooksbury Hoard, found in 1857 © SyAS Common remember all land has an owner! – and to 11 Early flat axe from Bagmoor 10 hoard © SyAS record finds with the Portable Antiquities 8 8 (Photo by D Graham) 8 Urnfield (cremation cemetery) from 11 Scheme and their local Finds Liaison Stoneyfield-Snailslynch, where several 9 Snailslynch 12 15 Spear head bucket urns were found, the largest bronze disc, 12 Late Bronze from Colt Hill, Officer (FLO). For more Age penannular (right) in situ in the gravel pit and later possibly a belt 4 Crooksbury © 6 on the Code of Practice, reconstructed © Surrey Archaeological ornament from ring from Crondall SyAS, A W G see www.finds.org.uk. 8 Society (SyAS), A W G Lowther bur ial © SyAS 11 (Photo by B Wood) 13 Lowther 15