Iron Age burials in East Yorkshire

From about 400-100 BC East Yorkshire was unusual in Iron Age Britain as people buried their dead in large cemeteries, whereas other communities and tribes did not bury their dead at all.

In East Yorkshire the dead were usually buried in a crouched position in a grave that was surrounded by a square shaped ditch. The graves were arranged in long lines. Most people were buried with only a very small number of objects, if any at all. Usually, a person might be given a pot and meat and, more rarely, they might have a brooch. A typical poor burial of this sort is shown here.

A small number of burials in East Yorkshire were different. The dead had more objects placed in their graves, including beads, a mirror and weapons. A few important people were buried in large graves that also contained a two-wheeled horse drawn cart or chariot. Although the wooden parts of the chariots have rotted away, the metal tyres and other metal parts of these vehicles often survive.