THE IRON AGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 131, 24 August 1927, Page 6

THE IRON AGE

Just over 20 centuries ago, when what is known as the iron age existed in England, a village was founded at a place called Bellus Hill, in Cambridgeshire. The use of bronze for making tools was disappearing, because man had discovered iron to be more suitable for his purposes. There was evidently a considerable population in England during the iron age, as is clear from the number of village sites discovered, and that of Bellus Hill must be regarded as one of the most important. In these early time's there was an almost' continuous invasion of England from the Continental countries near the North Sea. The broad estuaries of Suffolk and Norfolk must have witnessed many strange sights as these Continental marauders sailed up them. After hard fighting they gained a permanent footing, and at Bellus Hill we are able to learn much of their arts and crafts. The iron age people were agriculturists, as is shown by the discovery of burned wheat on one of the floors of the hut sites at Bellus Hill, and the fact that the villages of this period are found on rich lands suitable for corn-growing. Bellus Hill village seems to have covered about 20 acres, and was marked on three sides by a slight bank, a shallow ditch, and a morass. Excavations have yielded quantities of pottery contained in black earth pits. The pottery, which takes the form of rough hand-made bowls and urns, was found associated with bone combs, metal pins, rings, and brooches. Though iron was the chief metal used at this period, bronze was still utilised. The iron age people made man?/ beautiful objects in both pottery and ornaments, some of which were richly adorned with enamels. A bronze mirror of this period is remarkable for its beauty and for the skill of its manufacture. A splendid enamelled bronze shield found in the Thames at Battersea, now preserved in the British Museum, is a superb example of iron age workmanship. Sometimes in the iron age a warrior was buried with his chariot, surrounded by his weapons, but such finds are very rare.

Above the edge of dark appear the lances of the sun, Along the mountain ridges cl%ar his rosy heralds run; The vapours down the valley go, like broken armies, dark and low. Look up, my heart, from every hill, in folds of rose and daffodil. The ,sunrise banners flow. Henry Van Dyke.