800 BC-AD 43 Iron Age

During this period the south-west of England had extensive trade and cultural links with Armorica (modern Britanny) in mainland Europe. The tin mines of the far south-west had been producing metals for trade for centuries, while important ports such as Hengistbury Head (Dorset) traded in pottery and wines from Italy. A number of artefacts have been found in the region which show foreign influences or appear to have arrived in England as a result of trade.

Not only artefacts but architecture travelled across the sea from Armorica. Both modern Cornwall and Brittany have many examples of Iron Age underground storage chambers known as fogous or souterrains. This shows that people in these areas had strong cultural connections with each other, perhaps stronger than with other parts of Britain. However trade was not confined to overseas. The south-west was rich in shale, a soft dark stone similar to jet; and objects made of this material have been found across England. Pots made from gabbroic clays that are only found in Cornwall have also been found in other areas of England.