I am shook. My Scottish mother who passed away in 2013 used to say "iechyd da" all the time and I had no idea what it meant. I just thought it was something she made up. Wonderful documentary. Thank you.
Good job sir, living the life is probably the only way to truly understand how people lived, worked and built in those times, wish i could do that, love the pre Roman era Britain, keep up the good work, liked and subbed. ;-)
You are probably right about cooking in earthenware pots. the celtic god Sucellos is often depicted with a earthenware olla. The Dagdas caldron is probably adapted from the same tradition. These vessels seem to have been important all the way from the neolithic up into the iron age. Used in funerary tradition and for eatting, they would play an important double function of life and death, and since those functions are attributed to the Dagda, and likely Sucellos, we see it associated with them.
The theory I've heard on Iron age textiles is that there was no hard rule of "this tartan for this group" but there was an underlaying pattern. People got their cloth locally usually, local cloths are made with local dyes. So patterns emerge based on region reflecting regionally available dyes. So you can deduce who people likely trade with the most, based on tartan, but its not a guarantee, just a point that can help you make a guess.
As a shepherd and goatherd working on my own recreation of Iron Age life, I'm really curious about your soap recipe. I can't seem to find any like it online without lye/wood ash.
Hi Charles, there have been two attempts to do this. First in the 1970's (Check out "Living in the Past" ) and 1998 the BBC did "Surviving the Iron Age" you can find them on youtube. Though promising the 99 version failed miserably because they focused more on the tragedies than actually having people with the skills using them successfully. But you might find them helpful.
Wow you have covered a lot of in this one video. Living the history tests out many theories. I am sure that that there will be a lot of discussion about some of this, as nothing is definitive.Keep up th good work
@@IronAgeGuru I’ve watched less than half your video, but I’ve already subscribed to your channel. I wish your production standard was higher, but the content is great!
Will Llawerch - Where is the documentation for British La Tene shields made from three layers of Ash slats layered perpendicular to each other? How thick are the slats? Glued with hide glue?
Generally reenactors have been looking at preserved versions of shields from Denmark which show planked construction or the surviving metal rims of shields such as the Deal Grave Warriors Shield in UK. It suggests the thickness of the outer edge. However, recently, a shield was unearthed in England which was made out of a single layer of birch bark, surrounded by a sewn alder edge and using a braided nettle boss covered in Resin to harden it. So our understanding of shields have changed even since I made this film.
@@IronAgeGuru - Planked shields, where the individual boards are butted together and glued at their edges, yes. This is seen on the (few) surviving shield boards from La Tene in Switzerland and Hjortspring in Denmark. What you describe though, (between 16:50 - 16:59 in this video) is something very different; *". . . made from three layers of Ash that are glued together in alternate grain to give it strength like modern plywood."* Presumably, the front/back layers either running horizontal/vertical, and the center layer running opposite to them. To the best of my knowledge, the only shields with this construction are Roman Scuta. If there is documentation of this construction method in a Celtic artifact it would be newsworthy, and I would very much like to see it. The metal edge bindings and fitting are invaluable for the information that can be gleaned from them regarding shield construction. Much later Viking shields have thin, sheet metal clips that were placed overlapping the edge of the shield board. These indicate the the edge thickness was less than 3 mm. However, these same shields were about 9 mm thick toward the center opening under the boss. A shield with this even chamfering puts center mass at the hand, making for much more "lively" shield use. A similar even thinning from center to edge seems to be shown by the shield boards from La Tene. And the metal rim bindings from places like Gournay-Sur-Aronde in France also indicate thin edges. The Deal shield was also of the uniquely British "Hide-Shape" if I remember correctly. And yes, there have been a couple of new shields discovered recently; Pocklington and the Enderby bark shield being notable surprises.
I'm wondering if I've been there. When I was twelve, I went on a week long school trip to Butlins in Minehead, Somerset. We did all sorts of activities and one place we went to was an Iron Age farm. The buildings looked like these ones. Wales isn't far from Minehead, so it might have been here that I went. It was really interesting.
Demonmixer, There used to be another smaller Iron Age village in Somerset, but it closed over 10 years ago. It could be that you visited either one. Henllys is not too far from Somerset
"There were no rats in the Iron Age; we believe they came over with the Romans..." mind blown! (What have the Romans ever done for us? -The Life of Brian)
Hi John, Good Point, but the thing is, although it makes sense, if I started wearing a Tartan rather than a Plaid, it would look too Anachronistic, too modern. But in theory it makes sense right? As a member of a tribe, you'd automatically know, who was in your tribe just by looking at them, so what was the identifier? Colour, weave, hair style? Jewellry? We can only surmise.
Foreigners get excited over tartans however they don't have a long history at all - though the thought of it is a good money-spinner. The clan tartans are a modern invention, occurring in the late 18th and mostly 19th century including the Robertson tartan. Plaid was also a common fabric for a very long time back in to history.
Lusolad, If I were going to create an 'Iron Age Shield" again, I'd create an Enderby shield made from Birch bark with a nettle cordage boss soaked in Resin. Or, I might make a leather front shield like the Clonbrin version from Ireland. Regarding the Deal Warrior Grave shield, it was probably of the planked variety found in Europe, however, that's just conjecture. I chose the three layers of ash glued in alternate grains , like the Roman Scutum's just to try it. Hope this helps?
Hi Peter, I remember about 20 years ago, I bought a 100% wool blanket and washed it. When I came home, my wife had put it in the dryer and it turned to thick felt, I remember being both amazed and depressed by the whole thing. To answer you question, you can make as much felt as you like, its good for Scythian saddles and all kinds of reproduction clothing... Just I wanted to focus on spinning, dyeing and weaving for that scene. Thanks for watching.
IM SITTING HERE THINKING BRO, that i reckon that they may have had a tool like the seed crusher for making paint too, i can just hear a briton wife nagging a husband/son for not cleaning the mini mill after making paint in it lol, just a thought ?
I am shook. My Scottish mother who passed away in 2013 used to say "iechyd da" all the time and I had no idea what it meant. I just thought it was something she made up. Wonderful documentary. Thank you.
Good job sir, living the life is probably the only way to truly understand how people lived, worked and built in those times, wish i could do that, love the pre Roman era Britain, keep up the good work, liked and subbed. ;-)
This was so informative! Awesome!
great video, very educational, thankyou :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
You are probably right about cooking in earthenware pots. the celtic god Sucellos is often depicted with a earthenware olla. The Dagdas caldron is probably adapted from the same tradition. These vessels seem to have been important all the way from the neolithic up into the iron age. Used in funerary tradition and for eatting, they would play an important double function of life and death, and since those functions are attributed to the Dagda, and likely Sucellos, we see it associated with them.
The theory I've heard on Iron age textiles is that there was no hard rule of "this tartan for this group" but there was an underlaying pattern. People got their cloth locally usually, local cloths are made with local dyes. So patterns emerge based on region reflecting regionally available dyes. So you can deduce who people likely trade with the most, based on tartan, but its not a guarantee, just a point that can help you make a guess.
As a shepherd and goatherd working on my own recreation of Iron Age life, I'm really curious about your soap recipe. I can't seem to find any like it online without lye/wood ash.
Next time I make more Iron Age videos, my soapmaking will be one of them.
They need to make a tv show where some people live like they did back then . I’d love to be on a show like that.
Hi Charles, there have been two attempts to do this. First in the 1970's (Check out "Living in the Past" ) and 1998 the BBC did "Surviving the Iron Age" you can find them on youtube. Though promising the 99 version failed miserably because they focused more on the tragedies than actually having people with the skills using them successfully. But you might find them helpful.
I really liked this video, I wish I can try these things someday!
AMAZING video. I dont understand why you only have 200 subs! You should have like 15k!
Believe me Welsh Red Gamer...It keeps me up at night too mun!
Wow you have covered a lot of in this one video. Living the history tests out many theories. I am sure that that there will be a lot of discussion about some of this, as nothing is definitive.Keep up th good work
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@IronAgeGuru
I’ve watched less than half your video, but I’ve already subscribed to your channel. I wish your production standard was higher, but the content is great!
Absolutely fascinating
Subbed and already liked it.
Will Llawerch - Where is the documentation for British La Tene shields made from three layers of Ash slats layered perpendicular to each other? How thick are the slats? Glued with hide glue?
Generally reenactors have been looking at preserved versions of shields from Denmark which show planked construction or the surviving metal rims of shields such as the Deal Grave Warriors Shield in UK. It suggests the thickness of the outer edge. However, recently, a shield was unearthed in England which was made out of a single layer of birch bark, surrounded by a sewn alder edge and using a braided nettle boss covered in Resin to harden it. So our understanding of shields have changed even since I made this film.
@@IronAgeGuru - Planked shields, where the individual boards are butted together and glued at their edges, yes. This is seen on the (few) surviving shield boards from La Tene in Switzerland and Hjortspring in Denmark. What you describe though, (between 16:50 - 16:59 in this video) is something very different; *". . . made from three layers of Ash that are glued together in alternate grain to give it strength like modern plywood."* Presumably, the front/back layers either running horizontal/vertical, and the center layer running opposite to them. To the best of my knowledge, the only shields with this construction are Roman Scuta. If there is documentation of this construction method in a Celtic artifact it would be newsworthy, and I would very much like to see it. The metal edge bindings and fitting are invaluable for the information that can be gleaned from them regarding shield construction. Much later Viking shields have thin, sheet metal clips that were placed overlapping the edge of the shield board. These indicate the the edge thickness was less than 3 mm. However, these same shields were about 9 mm thick toward the center opening under the boss. A shield with this even chamfering puts center mass at the hand, making for much more "lively" shield use. A similar even thinning from center to edge seems to be shown by the shield boards from La Tene. And the metal rim bindings from places like Gournay-Sur-Aronde in France also indicate thin edges. The Deal shield was also of the uniquely British "Hide-Shape" if I remember correctly. And yes, there have been a couple of new shields discovered recently; Pocklington and the Enderby bark shield being notable surprises.
good video will. cheers for making the effort
Much appreciated, Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you I have learned quite a bit.
You are so welcome
I'm wondering if I've been there. When I was twelve, I went on a week long school trip to Butlins in Minehead, Somerset. We did all sorts of activities and one place we went to was an Iron Age farm. The buildings looked like these ones. Wales isn't far from Minehead, so it might have been here that I went. It was really interesting.
Demonmixer, There used to be another smaller Iron Age village in Somerset, but it closed over 10 years ago. It could be that you visited either one. Henllys is not too far from Somerset
@@IronAgeGuru Probably that one.
"There were no rats in the Iron Age; we believe they came over with the Romans..." mind blown! (What have the Romans ever done for us? -The Life of Brian)
We know certain Scottish clans wore the same patterns. I am a Robertson descendant and our clan pattern is red with a slight blue border.
Hi John, Good Point, but the thing is, although it makes sense, if I started wearing a Tartan rather than a Plaid, it would look too Anachronistic, too modern. But in theory it makes sense right? As a member of a tribe, you'd automatically know, who was in your tribe just by looking at them, so what was the identifier? Colour, weave, hair style? Jewellry? We can only surmise.
Foreigners get excited over tartans however they don't have a long history at all - though the thought of it is a good money-spinner. The clan tartans are a modern invention, occurring in the late 18th and mostly 19th century including the Robertson tartan. Plaid was also a common fabric for a very long time back in to history.
That bread sounds nicer than Morrisons own brand
What other shield types(shapes) were in use?
Lusolad, If I were going to create an 'Iron Age Shield" again, I'd create an Enderby shield made from Birch bark with a nettle cordage boss soaked in Resin. Or, I might make a leather front shield like the Clonbrin version from Ireland. Regarding the Deal Warrior Grave shield, it was probably of the planked variety found in Europe, however, that's just conjecture. I chose the three layers of ash glued in alternate grains , like the Roman Scutum's just to try it. Hope this helps?
Not everyone is as crafty as you are.
Why don’t we want the wool to become felt?
Hi Peter, I remember about 20 years ago, I bought a 100% wool blanket and washed it. When I came home, my wife had put it in the dryer and it turned to thick felt, I remember being both amazed and depressed by the whole thing. To answer you question, you can make as much felt as you like, its good for Scythian saddles and all kinds of reproduction clothing... Just I wanted to focus on spinning, dyeing and weaving for that scene. Thanks for watching.
IM SITTING HERE THINKING BRO, that i reckon that they may have had a tool like the seed crusher for making paint too, i can just hear a briton wife nagging a husband/son for not cleaning the mini mill after making paint in it lol, just a thought ?
why no milk in the bread?
. Celts have milk.
I've tried it with milk and I don't like it. Nothing to say they didn't use milk. I am just making the bread I like. :)
@@IronAgeGuru Respected. thanks again for the video. Slainté Math 😁
@@IronAgeGuru Was it gritty? You still have teeth?
There was no corn in England in the iron age. It hadn't been imported from the America's yet. 😑
You are thinking like an American John Doe! :) I didn't mean sweet corn, I meant corn, the cereal crop, as in wheat, Spelt, Barley etc