Arras Culture
Encyclopedia
The Arras culture is an archaeological culture
of the Middle Iron Age in East Yorkshire
It takes its name from the cemetery site of Arras near Market Weighton
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
, which was discovered in the 19th century. Its defining characteristic is a method of inhumation not found elsewhere in the British Isles
at this time, and it is thought to represent a culturally distinct group of people who inhabited the area at the time. Strong parallels exist with continental burial rites however.
The Arras culture burials differ from the funerary rites of other contemporary British peoples in three key ways. Firstly, they used large inhumation cemeteries, whereas elsewhere in Britain at the time the dominant funerary practise seems to have been a form of excarnation, and is at any rate invisible in the archaeological record. Other characteristic features of the Arras culture burials include the rectangular ditch which was used to mark the boundary of the enclosure of the barrow
built over the grave; and the two-wheeled vehicles, often dismantled, buried with the deceased in higher-status burials. Examples include the burials at Wetwang
. These vehicles have given them the name of chariot burial
s, although this interpretation of the vehicle has been questioned. This burial practice appears to be closely related to a distinct group of later Iron Age burials in northern France
and Belgium
, the only difference being the lack of fineware pottery in the richest British graves. One indication that this interpretation may be correct is the fact that later, in the Roman period, the tribe inhabiting this region was known as the Parisii, a name shared with the Gaulish tribe that lived around Paris
. This similarity was explained by means of a large-scale folk migration, moving northwards from the continent to settle in eastern Britain c.450 BCE. This suggestion has fallen from favour, and if an invasion took place, it is more likely to have been a take-over by a foreign elite, without large-scale population displacement. An alternative explanation is that the British Arras culture was an attempt by some of the natives to imitate a continental practice in order to increase their prestige; the upper echelons of this British tribe may have been trying to distinguish themselves by copying foreign ways. However, the vehicle burial aspect of the culture developed in Britain only in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, which suggests either that it was adopted independently, or that they were forgotten and then re-introduced by the immigrants. Either way, the Arras culture indicates strong cultural and economic links between the two regions during the period.
Archaeological culture
An archaeological culture is a recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place, which are thought to constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society. The connection between the artifacts is based on archaeologists' understanding and interpretation and...
of the Middle Iron Age in East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire could be:*East Yorkshire Motor Services*An alternative name for the East Riding of Yorkshire*East Yorkshire , a former district of Humberside*East Yorkshire...
It takes its name from the cemetery site of Arras near Market Weighton
Market Weighton
Market Weighton is a small town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is one of the main market towns in the East Yorkshire Wolds and lies midway between Hull and York, about from either one...
in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, which was discovered in the 19th century. Its defining characteristic is a method of inhumation not found elsewhere in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
at this time, and it is thought to represent a culturally distinct group of people who inhabited the area at the time. Strong parallels exist with continental burial rites however.
The Arras culture burials differ from the funerary rites of other contemporary British peoples in three key ways. Firstly, they used large inhumation cemeteries, whereas elsewhere in Britain at the time the dominant funerary practise seems to have been a form of excarnation, and is at any rate invisible in the archaeological record. Other characteristic features of the Arras culture burials include the rectangular ditch which was used to mark the boundary of the enclosure of the barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
built over the grave; and the two-wheeled vehicles, often dismantled, buried with the deceased in higher-status burials. Examples include the burials at Wetwang
Wetwang
Wetwang is a Yorkshire Wolds village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated west of Driffield on the A166 road....
. These vehicles have given them the name of chariot burial
Chariot burial
Chariot burials are tombs in which the deceased was buried together with his chariot, usually including his horses and other possessions....
s, although this interpretation of the vehicle has been questioned. This burial practice appears to be closely related to a distinct group of later Iron Age burials in northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the only difference being the lack of fineware pottery in the richest British graves. One indication that this interpretation may be correct is the fact that later, in the Roman period, the tribe inhabiting this region was known as the Parisii, a name shared with the Gaulish tribe that lived around Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. This similarity was explained by means of a large-scale folk migration, moving northwards from the continent to settle in eastern Britain c.450 BCE. This suggestion has fallen from favour, and if an invasion took place, it is more likely to have been a take-over by a foreign elite, without large-scale population displacement. An alternative explanation is that the British Arras culture was an attempt by some of the natives to imitate a continental practice in order to increase their prestige; the upper echelons of this British tribe may have been trying to distinguish themselves by copying foreign ways. However, the vehicle burial aspect of the culture developed in Britain only in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, which suggests either that it was adopted independently, or that they were forgotten and then re-introduced by the immigrants. Either way, the Arras culture indicates strong cultural and economic links between the two regions during the period.