Starter quiz
- When was the Iron Age?
- The Iron Age began in Britain approximately 280 years ago.
- The Iron Age began in Britain approximately 1000 years ago.
- The Iron Age began in Britain aprroximately 2800 years ago. ✓
- The Iron Age began in Britain approximately 2 million years ago.
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- Archaeologists use artefacts to learn about the past. True or false?
- True ✓
- False
- Art is only created on paper. True or false?
- True
- False ✓
- Match the word to the correct definition.
- Artwork⇔pieces of art, created to express ideas and feelings ✓
- Artefacts⇔ancient items created by humans ✓
- Archaeologist⇔someone who studies human history ✓
- Artist⇔someone who creates art ✓
- Prehistoric humans created art. True or false?
- True ✓
- False
- What is metalwork?
- making items out of metal in a skilled way ✓
- making items out of wood using metal tools
- making items out of stone using metal tools
- making items out of wood in a skilled way
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Exit quiz
- Which group of people lived in small farming settlements during the Iron Age?
- The Romans
- The Neanderthals
- The Celts ✓
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- Which are features of the La Tène style of Celtic art?
- cirlces ✓
- straight lines
- spirals ✓
- swirls ✓
- leafy pattens ✓
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- What is a torc?
- a large metal ring worn around the neck during the Iron Age ✓
- a weapon used during the Iron Age in battles
- a farming tool used during the Iron Age
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- Which statement is describing the Battersea Shield?
- It is made from gold alloy, it has eight metal ropes twisted together.
- It is made from bronze and decorated in the La Tène style of Celtic art. ✓
- It was found in a field in 1950 by a farmer ploughing.
- It is a piece of Iron Age jewellery, made from metal.
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- Match the artefact to the correct description.
- The Snettisham Great Torc⇔made from gold alloy, it has metal rope and decorative terminals ✓
- The Battersea Shield⇔made from bronze, the cover has red glass beads and three circles ✓
- What did archaeologists learn from the Battersea Shield and the Snettisham Great Torc?
- that the Celts were skilled craftsmen ✓
- that the Romans invaded Britain
- that the Celts were interested in art and design ✓
- that the Celts were fierce warriors
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Iron Age Britain was dominated by a group of people called the Celts, who had spread across Europe.
- Art was very important to the Celts, who made large numbers of metal objects in a style known as La Tène.
- The Snettisham Great Torc shows the incredible artistry and craftsmanship the Celts were capable of.
- The Battersea Shield made of bronze shows incredible craftmanship and the distinctive swirling patterns of La Tène.
- Archaeologists have worked out that it was too thin for protection, and so was probably an offering to the gods.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all of our knowledge of the Iron Age is definitely correct.
Explain that archaeologists use artefacts to learn about the past, they get ideas and clues from the artefacts and build up a picture of what they think the past was like. There is very little written evidence about the Celts.
Keywords
Celts - the Celts were groups of Iron Age people in Europe who shared similar languages and culture
La tène - a popular later style of Celtic art which uses curves, swirls and leafy patterns is called La Tène
Torc - a torc is a large solid ring worn around the neck
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