tour 5 of 6
The Wetwang Chariot Burial
The Chariot: Reconstructions
What evidence do we have for chariots in the
British Iron Age? Beyond the sixteen or so chariot burials that
have been discovered, and a few pieces of chariots recovered on
other excavations, there are two other sources of
information.
A few images
of chariots survive on coins of the first century BC. These show
light two-wheeled vehicles with m-shaped sides being drawn by two
horses. Although these are not detailed plans of vehicles, they do
convey a good idea of what they must have looked
like.
One other source
offers useful descriptions: the classical authors who visited
Britain or heard about chariots from other visitors. Julius Caesar
in De Bello Gallico
('The Gallic Wars') mentions the Britons using
chariots against his forces. They were apparently skilfully driven
and used in 'hit-and-run' attacks on Roman troops
in the mid-first century
BC.
Illustrated: a silver
denarius of about 48 BC
(CM BMC Roman Republic Rome 3994)