Year 3 - History
The Wetwang chariot and Celtic warfare
Iron Age Britain: what have historians learnt about Iron Age Britain?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop their understanding of sources and evidence by examining the artefacts that remain from Iron Age Britain. They will learn about Celtic art, Iron Age women, and Iron Age Britain's connections to the wider world.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain what archaeologists have learnt about Iron Age Britain from the Wetwang chariot.
Key Notes
- In 2001 in northern England, a grave was discovered of someone who must have been very important.
- Inside the grave, alongside the bones, were the remains of an Iron Age chariot.
- All that remained of the chariot were its metal parts and highly decorated bronze fittings, some inlaid with coral.
- The grave therefore suggests that chariots were important in Celtic warfare in Britain during the Iron Age.
- When the Romans came to Britain for the first time in the 1st century BCE, they noted that the Celts used chariots.
Vocabulary To Learn
- chariot: a chariot was a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by horses and used in ancient warfare
- coral: the hard skeleton of a type of tiny sea animal is called coral
- Romans: the Romans were a group of people from Italy that took over lots of land across Europe, Africa and the Middle East
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That the archaeologists used the actual artefacts found in the grave to make the reconstruction of the chariot.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
In 2001 in northern England, a grave was discovered of someone who must have been very important. Inside the grave, alongside the bones, were the remains of an Iron Age chariot.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'chariot'
a chariot was a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by horses and used in ancient warfare.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: That the archaeologists used the actual artefacts found in the grave to make the reconstruction of the chariot. Correction: Ensure pupils understand that archaeologists used new materials to make a replica chariot based on the evidence in the grave.
More Lessons In This Unit
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