Rein rings, linchpins and strap unions:

British Iron Age chariots usually had five rein rings, or 'terrets', fixed along the top of the wooden yoke that spans the horses. At Wetwang they were still attached to the yoke when it was placed in the grave, probably held in place by straps that pass round the iron bar in the base of the ring and through slots in the yoke. The excavators found them in a line where the yoke had rotted away. Each ring was elaborately decorated. When new, they would have been shiny bronze, decorated with bright red coral studs set into raised bosses. Red coral would have been very rare in Iron Age Britain, and was probably imported from the Mediterranean or even the Red Sea or Gulf. Not every stud was made from coral. The conservator Fleur Shearman discovered that in one of the rings a stud had been used made from different pieces of red glass 'enamel'. The stud is probably a replacement for a coral one that fell out and was lost. One conclusion that we could draw from this is that the chariot had been used before it was placed in the grave, and had not been made especially for the funeral. Buckles were not used in Iron Age Britain. Instead, straps of raw hide were held together by stitching, knotting, toggles or strap unions. Two strap unions were found at either end of the yoke placed in the grave at Wetwang. They allow the band that passes across each horse's chest to be fixed to the yoke. The strap unions are unusually delicate. They are decorated with coral studs on both sides, and illustrate the care that went into making every part of the vehicle and its harness. When found it was not clear how the strap unions worked, as they seemed so delicate. However, when replicas were made, an expert in horse harnesses recognized them as similar to ones still in use in parts of Spain. With these the strap ends in a loop, and it is turned in on itself and the resulting two loops are pulled tight around the apex of the triangles at each end. The wheels of the vehicle were made of wood, thought to have been ash. Each wheel probably had twelve spokes. However, after 2,300 years in the ground, all that has survived are the tyres and nave bands. The tyres, 90 cm in diameter and 39mm wide, are each thought to be made from a single strip of iron. A loop would have been made so that when red hot, it would have been slightly larger than the diameter of the wheel, shrinking to form a tight fit as it cooled. The iron in the tyres has almost all turned to rust. They were very fragile, and needed to be carefully excavated and lifted from the grave to bring them back to the Museum for conservation and study. The conservator Simon Dove has found traces of wood from the wheel surviving on the inside of the tyres. The nave bands are hoops of iron covered in thin bronze sheeting which cover each end of the wheel hub to help protect it from splitting, particularly when crossing rough ground.

Linchpins have a simple yet vital job: stopping the wheels of the chariot from falling off. There were two pins recovered from the grave at Wetwang, one for each wheel. They are made of iron which on excavation appeared like a large blob of rusty soil. Careful cleaning by the conservator Simon Dove revealed their shape; a 'J' topped by a small loop. Even these pins were decorated, with a collar below the loop and the upper portion dipped into molten bronze, thus giving them a bright, shiny finish. When the reconstruction of the chariot buried at Wetwang was made, the linchpins caused a problem. Although they are quite common finds from Iron Age Britain, we do not know precisely how they worked. Different ways of fixing the pin to the axle have been tried, but none both matches the evidence in the ground and holds a wheel on securely. This shows the importance of such experimental archaeology, trying to deduce exactly how prehistoric objects function.

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.

Putting the pieces together

A computer-generated model of the grave has been developed using the survey data taken on site, the shape and form of the excavated objects and the impressions left by the wooden parts of the chariot that have rotted away. Details of the woodwork missing in the evidence from the grave have been filled in with those from finds at other sites. Careful examination of the items in the grave have shown the sequence of events in the burial. The woman's body was laid out first, with her mirror and several joints of pig. The dismantled chariot was then passed in. Evidently a mistake was made, as the south end of the grave was pushed in to raise the axle and ensure that the pole did not rest on the woman's head. The yoke with the reins, horse bits and rein rings were then placed at the north end of the grave. The two wheels were then rested over the pole between the yoke and the body. Finally, the wooden box was placed over the body. The illustration shows a computer reconstruction of the burial sequence, by Stephen Crummy, illustrator for the Department of Prehistory and Early Europe.

Bringing the past to life

The historical weapons expert Mike Loades, wheelwright Robert Hurford and other specialists for the BBC Meet the Ancestors programme have made a reconstruction of the vehicle. They used the evidence from the grave, but also took into account images of chariots on Iron Age coins, written accounts and, just as importantly, practical solutions to problems. The wheels, pole and frame were made from ash wood, the axle turned on a strap lathe from a single piece of green oak. All the timbers were fitted into each other and secured with raw hide lashings. No nails were used. The rein rings were made with crushed coral inlays, and fitted to a carved oak yoke. The harness was devised from leather and sheepskin. Where this reconstruction differed from previous ones was in the suspension. A woven raw hide floor was created in an ash frame. This in turn was hung from woven hide straps suspended in a springy ash wood mount. The hide floor could be replaced by a box structure, which was more in keeping with the grave evidence. In both cases, ropes beneath secure the platform diagonally to the outer frame, preventing too much movement.