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The Buried Wonders Of Iron Age Britain | Time Team | Odyssey

Odyssey - Ancient History Documentaries・125 minutes read

Archaeologists uncover the secrets of an untouched hill fort believed to be an ancient Welsh tribal capital, identifying roundhouses and evidence of Iron Age settlement, potentially challenging previous assumptions about the site's significance in Welsh history. Excavations on Green Island reveal a complex network of industrial activities dating back to 250 BC, suggesting it was not just a port but a larger international industrial center with historical importance.

Insights

The hill fort on Kairai in South Wales may have been a crucial center of power for Welsh tribes 2,000 years ago, serving as an ancient capital.
The excavation of the untouched hill fort aims to uncover the secrets of the Iron Age community that once inhabited the site, revealing evidence of a densely populated settlement.
Modern lidar techniques reveal hidden ramparts at the site near Cardiff, indicating a potential display or defense structure, possibly part of a Romanized Iron Age settlement.
Green Island in Pool Harbor, believed to be an international port trading with the Mediterranean, shows evidence of industrial activity and occupation dating back to 250 BC, challenging previous assumptions about its historical significance.

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Recent questions

What is the significance of Green Island?
Green Island was a significant international port.
What were the main discoveries on Green Island?
Evidence of iron smelting and imported pottery.
What was the purpose of the Lost Fugu at Trevoneague?
Possibly for refuge, escape routes, storage, or cult activities.
What were the key findings on Kairai hill fort?
Evidence of Iron Age dwellings and artifacts.

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Summary

00:00

Uncovering ancient Welsh hill fort mysteries

The channel is part of the History Hit Network, located in South Wales on the Ely housing estate.
The hill, known as Kairai, is believed to have been an ancient capital for Welsh tribes 2,000 years ago.
The hill fort on Kairai may have been a vital center of power for the region.
The team of archaeologists aims to uncover the secrets of the untouched hill fort.
Geophysics team surveys the hilltop to locate an ancient tribal center.
Kairai overlooks Cardiff and is believed to have been a significant hub for Welsh clans.
Time Team site director Francis Pryor identifies what he believes to be an Iron Age ditch.
Magnetometry is used to locate circular features like Iron Age round houses buried for over 2,000 years.
Trenches are dug to uncover evidence of Iron Age dwellings and date the hill fort.
The discovery of multiple round houses suggests the presence of an Iron Age community on the hill fort.

16:08

Iron Age Excavation Reveals Ancient Lifestyle

The room contains five or six people discussing the possibility of finding something significant in the area.
The burnt limestone and geophysical results suggest a densely populated Iron Age site.
Disagreement arises over the interpretation of marks in the ground, with one side believing it to be caused by glaciers.
The search focuses on finding a roundhouse, with a trench being extended to uncover more evidence.
The site is believed to be part of the heartland of the Iron Age tribes of Wales, particularly the Sailories.
The Sailories are known for their resistance against Roman advances, indicating the significance of the Hill Fort.
Local children from Ely join the excavation, hoping to bring luck in finding artifacts.
Iron Age artifacts, including a communal drinking cup, suggest a sophisticated and colorful lifestyle.
The process of making bronze involves smelting copper ore with locally sourced materials.
A significant find of a corn grinding stone indicates evidence of Iron Age people living and farming in the area.

32:44

"Bronze pouring reveals Iron Age settlement secrets"

Bronze is ready to be poured into molds to create Iron Age style hands, cooling in about 10 minutes.
The bronze at a chocolate-like consistency is delicate and must be handled gently.
Modern lidar techniques reveal hidden ramparts at the site, possibly for display or defense.
Trench four uncovers Roman and Iron Age pottery, suggesting a Romanized Iron Age settlement.
Despite some finds proving late Iron Age occupation, dense population evidence remains elusive.
A new plan to search for Iron Age artifacts is initiated to pinpoint the site's heyday.
Excavations reveal evidence of roundhouses and pottery, dating the site to the early Iron Age.
A complete early Iron Age cup found in a post hole confirms the site's age and significance.
The discovery of roundhouses from 800 BC suggests a densely populated ancient settlement.
The site's occupation spans thousands of years, with evidence of kitchen accidents and drinking rituals.

50:22

Uncovering Iron Age Mysteries: Excavating Fugu

Blight's map can be used to locate the possible Iron Age wall, with the wall potentially gone but the bank it was built on possibly still existing.
The team is at the end of the enclosure where the wall would have encircled the fugu and Iron Age houses.
Excavation near the fugu is restricted due to its protected status, but potential discoveries may still be made under Joe's lawn.
Dowsing was used to detect the fugu extending under the lawn, with skepticism from some team members.
Geophysics results indicate anomalies suggesting a ditch or waterlogged chamber under the lawn.
A trench will be dug to investigate the anomalies and potentially find an extension to the fugu.
The purpose of the fugu, possibly for refuge, escape routes, storage, or cult activities, remains a mystery.
The fugu is a Cornish term for a cave, with only 10 fugus discovered in England, all in Cornwall.
Dowsing results are questioned, with a focus on finding the Iron Age wall for pottery evidence of the settlement.
Excavation efforts continue, with the team hopeful for new discoveries and potential extensions to the fugu and Iron Age structures.

01:05:02

Iron Age Settlement Excavation and Discoveries

The dowser's trench in Corenza's area is not promising, lacking any significant finds, with the only discovery being a 1950s flower pot possibly used for geraniums.
Karenza's trench shows promise with stones possibly from an Iron Age wall, prompting the need for an extension the following day.
Mick suggests digging more exploratory trenches to understand the site better, despite some skepticism from Tony.
The team realizes that the house built on the site likely flattened the original settlement, leading to the need for further exploration.
The team shifts focus to Corenza's trench, uncovering evidence of an enclosure mapped in 1905, indicating a smaller area than previously thought.
The team discovers Iron Age pottery in the trench, suggesting a settlement contemporary with the fugu, potentially shedding light on the people who lived there.
An experiment to extract tin ore from a stream in Joe's garden is conducted, showcasing the process used in the Iron Age for making bronze.
A final trench is dug along the enclosure line, revealing more potential Iron Age structures, including pottery finds.
The team works on reconstructing the pottery and visualizing how Joe's family might have looked during the Iron Age, shedding light on their possible activities.
The team conducts a primitive tin smelting experiment, showcasing the labor-intensive process and the use of basic materials like clay-lined furnaces and pigskin bellows.

01:20:29

Iron Age Settlement Uncovered at Trevoneague

Found the biggest bit of pottery, a late Iron Age cooking pot, and evidence of Iron Age structures
Uncertain about the exact nature of the structures and need to determine if they have genuine faces
Discovered evidence of occupation but no occupation layers yet
Smelters successfully produced tin at the end of day two
Tin found mixed with slaggy bits at the bottom of the furnace
Excavated pottery indicates an Iron Age settlement contemporary with the Fugu
Geophysics team located the Lost Fugu at Trevoneague, confirming its existence
Evidence of an enclosure wall and Iron Age structures emerging in the garden trench
Half a saddle quern found, indicating food preparation during the Iron Age
Pottery and equipment found represent a complete domestic tool kit for an Iron Age house, contemporary with the Fugu

01:36:03

"Green Island: Ancient Port of Trade"

Stones found under Joe's lawn on day one; discovery of settlement this weekend provides context.
Visualization of wall across Joe's garden with Iron Age house inside.
Fugu, a mound above surface, connected to people's spiritual beliefs.
Green Island in Pool Harbor, significant archaeological finds.
Island believed to be an international port trading with the Mediterranean.
Three days to prove Green Island's significance as a Dover-like port.
Test pits revealed imported pottery, hinting at foreign trade.
Mix of imported and local wares, evidence of iron smelting and Shale working.
Structural evidence sought, including warehouses and manufacturing areas.
Huge jetties in channel between Green Island and mainland, dated to 250 BC.

01:51:06

Green Island's Industrial Past Unearthed

170 meters of the island eroded over 2000 years, hinting at industrial activity.
Trench 3 reveals a potential enclosure ditch and the first Shale core.
Trench 2 uncovers evidence of metalworking, possibly a furnace bottom.
Hammer scale indicates a nearby blacksmith's workshop.
Trench 1 suggests an Iron Age or Roman structure with a lathe-turned Shale bracelet.
Green Island's size in the Iron Age was larger, with evidence of a port.
Trench 1 reveals a structure with Flint nodules for tool-making and pottery.
Jake attempts to replicate an Iron Age armlet from Shale.
Trench 2 may have found an Iron Age furnace, a rare discovery.
Trench 3 uncovers a feature resembling an enclosure ditch, still under investigation.

02:06:08

Iron Age excavation reveals ancient settlement clues.

Trench five shows massive responses, prompting further investigation away from modern disturbances.
An area previously off-limits for digging is now open for exploration.
A test pit is proposed on the lawn, limited to one square meter for a few months.
Three new trenches are planned to search for possible industry, including a potential settlement.
Trench one reveals evidence of a building with oyster shells and bone, possibly a domestic structure.
Trench two uncovers a potential smithing hearth with structural materials and smithing debris.
Day three sees discoveries of an Iron Age ditch, a furnace, and human skull fragments.
Trench eight yields Flint, Shale, and charred grain, indicating nearby settlement.
Trench three exposes an Iron Age ditch possibly related to Shale works or worker huts.
Disagreement arises over the nature of a rectangular structure in trench one, possibly related to worker living quarters.

02:20:27

Green Island: Ancient Iron Age Furnace Site

Green Island is home to the first structure of an Iron Age furnace found in Britain, where iron was worked directly on charcoal fanned by leather bellows, with tools like chisels, hammers, swords, and knives crafted.
The island has been a site of industrial activity and occupation for 500 years, with pottery, shale slag, and other artifacts dating back to 250 BC, continuing into the Roman period, indicating a significant historical presence.
The discovery on Green Island suggests it was not just a port but a larger industrial center of international importance, potentially part of a complex network, challenging previous assumptions about its historical significance.

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