Harvested crops were stored in either granaries that were raised from the ground on posts, or in bell-shaped pits 2-3m (6-7ft) deep, dug into the chalk landscape. Due to these ranges, and the varying evidence of the archaeology, the pattern of every day life in an Iron Age village has to be described in quite generalised terms.Įnvironmental evidence - in the form of carbonised grains and pollen - has shown that new crops such as emmer wheat were introduced, in addition to the spelt wheat, barley, rye and oats already grown in these fields. The changes and technological innovations that occurred during this time were every bit as evolutionary as those that have occurred in the last 800 years, from the 13th century to the present day.īy the end of the Iron Age, amongst other things, coinage had been introduced, wheel thrown pottery was being made, there was an increased interest in personal appearance, people had started to live in larger and more settled communities, and the mortuary rites of society had changed.įurthermore, because of climatic, geographical and topographical differences, someone living in Yorkshire or Ireland would have eaten different food, worn different clothing and lived in different housing conditions from someone living in southern Britain. The period known as the Iron Age lasted in Britain for about 800 years (from c.750 BC to AD 43).