Warrior king uncovered at east Yorkshire iron age settlement

The 2,500-year-old settlement. Photograph: MAP/PA

“The lifespan of the graves is between 200 to 300 years and there are many tantalising theories that we have about the site. For example, we have a group of three interconnecting barrows and it seems all of them were related to each other. This grave could have been maintained over a period of a 100 years, which is just remarkable.”

Excavation at the site has already revealed a haul of objects, including a sword, a shield and 10 spears, more than 360 amber and glass beads, brooches and pots.

The discovery was made by a property developer who had begun excavating the site on Burnby Lane to build homes. But the work was halted and archaeologists called in after the settlement was revealed.

The iron age lasted in Britain for about 800 years, beginning in about 800BC. As the name suggests people began to make iron weapons and tools, and to live in settled farming communities.

It was a violent period populated by clans belonging to tribes and led by warrior kings. Rival tribes often fought with iron weapons and lived in hill forts for protection.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/17/warrior-king-uncovered-yorkshire-iron-age-settlement