David Freeman on Family Life in the Iron Age

Subject - Family Life in the Iron Age. Filmed as a video insert on an interactive CDRom for the Museum of Liverpool Life.

[@notsure1638]

I just wanna hear this guy talk about life in the iron age for hours.

[@Misses-Hippy]

Very informative video and well presented. David Freeman even looks like the statue of the Dying Gaul.

[@cupcakethecatsworld1092]

I could listen to you talk all day, David!

[@DextraVisual]

Although mortality was clearly a greater factor than today, there is something strangely appealing about the hardship of this lifestyle. I guess they would cherish day to day life more, and the black and white simplicity and consequence that we do not experience these days. You don't get a chance to suffer boredom and drudgery when every choice you make could cost your life or the entire village. Fascinating.

[@bcaye]

Stephen Hill, as stated, much of the population died in infancy or childhood. Infectious diseases is the most likely cause. Most children and a quarter of adults were anemic. Most adults had arthritis and very bad teeth. Not all that idyllic.

[@Tina06019]

I think if you were sick, weak or injured, you usually just died. But I doubt life was boring!

[@Psydork64]

Stephen Hill, yes but, no medicine, and also that bread wore away your teeth because of the stone preparation, no dentist either. But, regardless, it did make life worth more.

[@Misses-Hippy]

@@bcaye And they had worms in their guts. No tampons either.

[@bcaye]

@@Misses-Hippy, why are tampons a deal? You can live perfectly well without them.

[@havadatequila]

Living like that, the feasts would have been epic.

[@joshuaperry7199]

Im currently writing a book about the britons during the roman occupation. For someone who has never farmed this has been really helpful for my discription of village life so thank you buddy. One question, was barley a crop back then? I always thought that a type of porridge was the norm? Please correct me if im wrong.

[@YamiPoyo]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing

[@dankeeble5170]

I am watchinh this for school :((

[@Ben-Downlow.]

Fascinating, but, how do you know this was how it was? Are there contemporary sources? Or is this just the best current theory?

[@gdfreeman1950]

we have a much greater understanding in the last few year. Some of it comes from an increase in artifacts which help understanding of daily tasks and skills.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Having milked both cows and goats, I doubt 5 year olds milking cows. Those teats are hard and rubbery, and build up tremendous muscles. Goats would be much easier, softer teats and smaller sized.

[@gdfreeman1950]

If you have access to UK tv, checkout the Yorkshire Farm, and watch a four year old milking.

[@highwatercircutrider]

Amish and Mennonite families here in the U.S. often start children milking at 6 or 7 years of age ( especially the boys ).

[@aSkepticalTruth]

How did the animals, cattle especially, get along during the winter? I've never heard of an iron age barn but surely they existed.

[@gdfreeman1950]

There would have been a cull at the end of the autumn, leaving the breeding animals to be looked after over winter. There is some evidence of possible hay stacks, dry grass, used as fodder to feed the larger animals. Winter pastures were close to the farm. All animals would live out of doors all year round, unlike modern farming.

[@gdfreeman1950]

www.gallica.co.uk/buildings/haystack.htm

[@thermotheo]

I thought I had read chickens and their eggs weren't eaten until Roman times, until then connected with deity's?

[@gdfreeman1950]

The Romans say chickens (cocks) were kept for fighting!

[@Noblebird02]

By the Roman Empire had quorns for grinding bread been superceded? Also how did Celts and Mediterranean ppl differ with technology?

[@gdfreeman1950]

The Romans experimented with water driven grinding, but did not want to put slaves out of work, so hand grinding continued in homes, and ass driven grinding in bakeries. Checkout the evidence in Pompeii.

[@Noblebird02]

@@gdfreeman1950 incredible! I wonder if the ass driven mills seen in Pompeii had spread to businesses that couldn't afford slaves

[@gdfreeman1950]

I think it was more to do with quantity.

[@tylerbryab9662]

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@aedanjoens9975]

2:50 no crisps?? Fuck that