What Was Life Like in Iron Age Britain? | Ancient Britain with Ray Mears

Around 800 BC, Britain entered the Iron Age. This era saw the gradual introduction of iron working technology, although the general adoption of iron artefacts did not become widespread until after 500-400 BC.
As the Iron Age progressed through the first millennium BC, strong regional groupings emerged, reflected in styles of pottery, metal objects and settlement types. Technological innovation increased and the population of Britain grew substantially, probably exceeding one million. This population growth was partly made possible by the introduction of new crops, including improved varieties of barley and wheat, and increased farming of peas, beans, flax and other crops.
Join bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears in the third and final episode of our Ancient Britain series, as he explores the relics of Iron Age Britain. On his journey, Ray visits the magnificent forts at Malvern Hills and a recreation of an Iron Age village at Butser Ancient Farm in Chalton.
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#historyhit #raymears #ironage #forging

[@sshep86]

Its sad that Ray doesn't get prime time TV anymore. Before Bear Grylls he was the ultimate survival expert. Sad times that Bear kicked this legend off the the pinnacle because one thing Ray wasn't was fake. I love that I can get some 'Ray Mears' actual beneficial information. This man will keep you alive. I'm hoping this legend produces his own stuff under his own label and makes an actual bank with his name and brand. He deserves it.

[@DallingerM]

He still is the ultimate survival expert, he still trains the SAS post selection. Bear Grylls couldn’t start a fire with a lighter ... he’s just paid to eat bugs before sleeping in a hotel at night - truth

[@sshep86]

@@DallingerM 100% agree.

[@AnonymousEuropeanDriver]

TV Execs think we want to watch all the fake drama and nonesense but really what most people want is good quality information presented by knowledgeable professionals in a straightforward way

[@HULLGRAFFITI]

I think even Ray would say 'Bush tucker man' Les hiddins is the godfather of survival telly...

[@prairrie]

Ray is the real deal, and doesn't sleep in a hotel inbetween 'roughing it for telly'.....

[@igg3937]

People complain plenty about the modern world but the fact that you can get documentaries of this quality from a seasoned presenter like Ray Mears, for free, is pretty awesome.

[@risin4949]

Well said.

[@kimberlypatton205]

That’s not all,to me! Give me my life today in this time out of any other! I feel so grateful not to live in turbulent times of long ago. Not that I don’t love history and respect all those who came before. What they lived through to enable us to be at the place we are today! I respect the hardships and struggles… we all want better for our children.

[@glenw1740]

also the fact that we experience a good quality of life without much to really worry about - thats pretty good too! we all need history to get some real perspective

[@alexhale6582]

Ray is one of Britain's national treasures.

[@brettcurtis5710]

Indeed - have followed his programs for many years!

[@abrupt_oliver]

Ray '5 Star' Mears

[@jaydunstan1618]

He is a F.R.A.U.D!

[@jaydunstan1618]

@@brettcurtis5710 Get a life!

[@alexhale6582]

@@jaydunstan1618 says who?

[@redneckhippy2020]

Love Ray Mears. Long before any current youtube 'survivalist' channel there was this man, Ray Mears. He's been a big inspiration for decades.

[@noahway13]

My granddad used to say that people who wanted to go back and live in the "good old days" never experienced the "good old days"...

[@pamcullen537]

The archaeologist who showed Ray around the buildings should get her own program as she explained everything very concisely

[@jessheppell750]

Yes, she had excellent common sense too with the idea about sleeping upright due to lung problems. Very intelligent.

[@eclipsearchery9387]

You've got to be joking...it doesn't take a genius to separate stone from flour....try breathing smoke in for a few hours....do you really think your ancestors were stupid enough to do that for long....let alone a master fire maker wouldn't have a 'smoky' fire unless they wanted it to be smokey.....many other holes in her thinking. To be fair the other 'experts' weren't much cop either.....

[@conqueringlion420]

Na, I had to skip her never ending rambling monotone

[@manfrombritain6816]

she was dull, even Ray had no respect for what she was saying lol his body language shows it. always folding his arms and wandering off, or cutting her sentences short. she clearly has the knowledge but yeah pretty boring

[@noahway13]

@@manfrombritain6816 Well, her topic is not very exciting. The "Hunting" is more exciting that the "Gathering" (and housekeeping)

[@cardroid8615]

No one makes programmes celebrating our ancestors and our history quite like our Ray does. I remember watching Ray when i was a younger man and being in awe of what he was teaching us about our ancestors and our traditions. He invoked in me a great sense of wonder in who we are and who our ancestors were. If you're reading this Ray thank you so much for making these programmes for us. I enjoy them so much.

[@jaydunstan1618]

Your ancestors started life in a test-tube!

[@Urgleflogue]

Gimme Ray Mears videos any day, every day. I love the man ever since his earliest productions in the 1990-ties.

[@jaydunstan1618]

'Love the man' GET A LIFE!

[@DaveMoth]

Ray Mears is fantastic. Find him relaxing as well as supremely knowledgeable. Hope he's featured more on this channel.

[@5764830]

It is a luxury to have Ray Mears on KZbin. With all his years of experience in survival, and as a communicator, he makes ancient history tangible and relatable.

[@pamcullen537]

My late husband was an avid follower of Ray and was very similar in his outlook towards nature and wood in particular, often coming up with ridiculous ideas but enjoying every moment of his life and making people laugh at the things he got up to

[@tbrowniscool]

He sounds a great guy Pam, sorry for your loss ❤❤

[@lovedaybebe5881]

Sending hugs 🙏 sorry for your loss 🙏

[@pamcullen537]

@@lovedaybebe5881 Thank you so much ❤️

[@pamcullen537]

@@tbrowniscool Thank you so much ❤️

[@joekelleher3546]

❤

[@Kozu604]

Honestly if this was like a 10 hour series going into depth on all the different bits of ancient Britain into more detail with Ray, I'd subscribe to HistoryHit Just to watch it. This was good, excellent even, I just want more. More stoneage, the Bronze age!

[@cardroid8615]

Absolutely I need more!

[@foldionepapyrus3441]

And more presenters with the quality Ray has. I did subscribe to HistoryHit for a while in part because of a Ray's series on archery which was excellent. But some of the other presenters annoyed me - stating stuff as absolute facts that are not and can never be without time travel, presentation styles that grated, targeting folks that don't know anything at all so there was nothing new to get me thinking even though I'm no expert at that period, and just not enough focus IMO across the breadth of history available on it at that time. Still worth a subscribe for a month or two when you have some weekend free to browse and skip the stuff you don't like, so I'll probably cough up again at some point in a year or two.

[@noahway13]

I live in the US and I have talked to several others who are jealous of the history, and exciting finds you have in Britain. We do have some nice fossil sites in tiny areas.

[@woodworks2123]

Been watching ray since those early days of country tracks. All the survival series, wild food, wild Britain, walkabout and many more. living legend of traditional knowledge. Great to see another series with ray!

[@edh7492]

Same here, as a kid I watched country tracks just to see Rays section. Remained a huge fan of his and have his books and went to see him talk when he toured. He’s always been underrated despite being a truly brilliant man!

[@betsyross2.065]

I loved those series...Lifelong fan...

[@nitt3rz]

What I love about these documentaries; is that they're as long as the need to be, not constrained by TV schedules, with subjects that are a quite niche.

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

I met Ray at a book signing years back and I've been to a few of his lectures. Really fab.

[@betsyross2.065]

Lucky to have met him🎉🎉🎉

[@oneandonlyjaybee]

Me too! I had to get there on a lunch break and bought a disposable camera on the way there so I could get a photo with him. What a guy.

[@hxoa6581]

More of Ray please, we can all agree on that.

[@gjclark2478]

Ray was a stalwart of tv when t.v.was informative and enjoyable. His knowledge in survival is second to none. But he knows about metallurgy too. His knives are legendary, I unfortunately could not afford one. I did buy his 5.11 shirt though !! This guy trained our forces in survival etc I'm just glad to see his stuff again. When I was in the TA, he was held in such high regard, and on exercise he was referenced many, many times. Legend.

[@Mark-sg2ri]

Please can we see more of Ray Mears. I love his khaki clothes, great hair and his incredible knowledge he really is a national treasure

[@williamrobinson7435]

Ray strikes again! A real cultural insight. From the timeline, the forge to the reconstructed village, as ever the presenter manages to pack a whole lot of stuff into a short film. Nice one Ray and team! ⭐👍

[@neilfurby555]

Brilliant Ray Mears, a true enthusiast, no need for showmanship and celebrity. Just a modest and very sincere human being. Sadly a rare thing that adds so much programmes such as these.

[@jaymac7203]

Fascinating stuff. I've been a huge fan of Ray Mears for decades. It's great to see him back on our screens.

[@kulshedra6488]

More Ray please! He’s a national treasure

[@warmweeniesdoxiesweaters2884]

One set of my Grandparents lived in a log cabin (that Grandpa built) in the wilderness. They heated that one room home by burning wood in an iron stove. Grandpa's lungs were "ruined". And I always guessed it was from spending his whole life making and tending wood fires... It was a constant job. He was born in 1895 and lived to be 70. I feel so very privileged to have participated in that life.

[@faithlesshound5621]

Chimneys are a relatively modern invention, so chronic bronchitis must have been very common among ancient people, especially the women if they were cooking indoors as would have been necessary in the British climate. British houses had open fires until the late middle ages, when they started building chimneys and upper floors, so there was a breathing space of a few centuries until tobacco was introduced and long-term exposure to smoke came back, affecting more men this time. However, smokers are not breathing the stuff all the time, unlike those living and sleeping in it. In the third world, a lot of rural or mountain folk live in huts without chimneys so respiratory problems were commoner among women until smoking was introduced. Given their exposure to smoke, I wonder how long and how effectively the ancient Britons could fight. The Roman army had the advantage that they did not all fight at the same time: the front rank dropped back after a while to recover while the second rank took over, and so on. Only trained and disciplined fighters could do that in hand-to-hand combat. Meanwhile the barbarians were running out of steam.

[@nomad_lyfe]

Fond memories of watching Ray Mears on tv with my dad when I was still a child, this guy is a real legend.

[@nevillesavage2012]

Half a world away Ray inspired my wilderness skill journey. Changed My life for the better and We will probably never meet. Thank You Sir!

[@ismarwinkelman5648]

Ray has been and always will be THE ultimate survival expert 😎👏🏾 P.S. Les Hiddins (The Bush Tucker Man) was in a different league, but just as awesome as Ray

[@lesliehart]

or Les's father

[@mpersad]

This series has been absolutely fantastic, so many insights into a fascinating period in our history.

[@thequantumsalamander]

As an archaeologist, it's great to hear Ray talk of his modern day experiences of cultures using similar buildings. By nature, it's easy for an archaeologist to get stuck on interpreting the archaeological evidence alone. Ray's examples can really add flesh back to the bones.

[@oneandonlyjaybee]

Ray is a rare breed. He's one of only a handful of people/subjects that can appear on youtube and everyone just gets along with each other in the comments section.

[@guymorris7950]

Brilliant i have watched and read Rays work for years, purchased things from his Website. Purely for the reason people have given, trust in him, his knowledge and experience that he has always given in everything he has done. Honest and passionate about the natural world, not the glamour of fame.

[@redtankgirl5]

Ray Mears inspired me here across the pond and I learned so much. I can’t get enough and am always ready to learn more. He inspired me to eventually get land in the bush and build my off grid home. This is where I can practice some skills learned, I couldn’t practice before. He truly has been and is a treasure. Thank you Ray Mears.

[@D4n1t0o]

Used to love watching Ray after school. Proper English original.

[@MikeSmith-su8ee]

I hope that Ray is going to start making more programmes...he is by far the best.

[@B2091]

I have so much time and respect for Ray. A fountain of knowledge on so many topics. He appears to truly love what he does and it shines through in his work. And that to me, is why he is so watchable and engaging. Very professional and very talented!

[@leevan-go8637]

Ray Mears is an absolute legend!

[@paulsullivan8883]

I really enjoyed that. I've walked over British Camp a number of times. It really gets the imagination going. Also, Ray is a legend!

[@russtaylor2122]

Thank you! Ray is the man. Thoughtful, articulate, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, empathetic and modest. Great stuff.

[@scrimdog3328]

Great job putting this series together. Lots of nostalgia for me with ray. I remember as a young boy sat watching him with my dad. Always checking the tele book to see when he was next on

[@jdghok]

Another wee classic from Ray Mears, ive watched this guy since he started however long ago that was lol, he never fails to impress me, more Ray narrated docs please history hit

[@gammon1183]

To spend a day with Ray in the countryside would be a day id treasure 😎

[@notimportant1404]

They slept sitting up for the same reason even just 100 years ago Norwegians, Swedes, and even Russians slept in small cabinet beds. It's enclosed, small, and easier to warm so you don't freeze to death at night.

[@susanwestern6434]

I have an oak sideboard made from a cabinet bed from my great grandfather's farm in North West Germany, near Osnabruck.

[@helentucker6407]

Interesting...I've seen a documentary with tibetan monk who was sleeping sat up in a cloak. I'm particularly taken with this as I also sleep sitting up due to health problems!

[@helentucker6407]

@@susanwestern6434 wow, that's great. 👍

[@mothball5425]

It's speculation though. The enclosed beds may have been for children and the adults got their beds out and slept by the fire.

[@tarikh73]

When in my father's village in Pakistan we had wooden frame on 4 legs with woven thin rope to create A very pliable support in between. Thus was light and moveable. It acted as a couch...and wirk area ...w9menbwoukd sit on it and peel vegetables and chat and at night with blankets placed on top a bed. It is called a manjee.i see them using something similar ..furniture that was multi purpose and moveable and lifted up and pushed to the side if not needed or to be dragged outside when the weather was good.

[@brian280453]

Ray Mears is a real survivalist, he is also a man who can teach us and keep us enthralled with history with his enthusiasm and knowledge , Bear Grylls is just a showman, his ott and (in my humble opinion) flashy behaviour just puts me off . Give me Ray’s understated approach any day.

[@scottmiller2380]

Ray is a National Treasure and up there in my opinion with David Attenborough. I just wish the youth of today got to see more of him rather than the celebrity rubbish they get feed

[@joelledurben3799]

Thank you for sharing. Could you please post the date the program was made in the description? It helps to see how our understanding of the past has developed and increased over time.

[@Knappa22]

So interesting. The Brythonic tribe (Wealas, or Welsh as the Anglo-Saxons called them) who lived at the hillfort had such an interesting material and anthropological culture. Even the name of the hill ‘Malvern’ derived from Old Welsh ‘Moelfryn’ (Moel + bryn) meaning bald or bare-crested hill is evocative and perfectly describes the site

[@zumbawithcathya]

More Ray Meares episodes please ….so informative …without pretention…thanks v much

[@jimbojet8728]

Love listening to and watching Ray. I went to watch him give a presentation in a Cardiff theatre some years ago, he was very good,we don’t see enough of him.

[@dannyschaible7112]

Ray Mears!❤❤ If it has Ray, I will watch it. And I will love it

[@willsonj]

As a kid I used to love watching Ray Mears. At first I didn’t even realise it was him presenting, but I was really enjoying his knowledge. It’s rare to see a presenter understanding things so clearly, and putting forward their own ideas.

[@FilthyTheDog1]

"As every good woodsman knows..." Ray is the Dog's Bollocks. I'm guessing there were more episodes prior to this covering the paleo to neo lithic and the bronze age? Are these available anywhere?

[@TimCCambridge]

👍👍The UK is a historical goldmine... the more responsible, satisfying and expansive world and local tourism can be promoted the better.

[@-Gorbi-]

Good episode, would have loved to see a simulated reconstruction of the hill fort!

[@siramar6127]

Come visit us at Butser Ancient Farm, we don't have a hill fort but we do have a banjo enclosure :)

[@partybwoy8521]

I'd take Ray in my camp / army / squadron any day .... this man is a fountain of knowledge 🎉🎉

[@Squarepeg57]

Ray is the best documentary presenter.

[@jimisi7424]

Ok ray, this is pure quality!

[@pwking100]

For myself, Ray is a minor Deity. This is excellent!!! [going a little grey? VERY distinguished!]. Loved this. Thank You.

[@jenniferlevine5406]

One of the best documentaries I have seen in a long time. Thanks so much for sharing this. Excellent video!

[@robinminn271]

Appreciate the discussion on color in clothing/furnishings. I have never believed in the past the "peasants" wore drab. Embroidery, macrame, patching would make gorgeous things. I read sometime ago the pigments in the American Williamsburg painted walls was analyzed and assembled and applied to see the original color. Boom... A shock. What we call Federal blue a grayed color was anything but. It was nearly peacock blue. Walls were salmon orange and pinks yellows were nearly incandescent.

[@stephenrenwick8781]

Ray Mears, Total Legend.

[@Jesusandbible]

Nice to see Ray back. Country Track was good too, His first TV ones.

[@superman00001]

Ray is such a lovely man, and the depth of his knowledge and experience is off the scale.

[@judithmccrea2601]

People in the pre-historic times were just like us. It’s wonderful.

[@Thanatos--]

I haven't seen Ray in a while. I would love a video where he 'survived' off the land for a week in the spirit of a woodland rogue a la Robin Hood.

[@snelgrave101]

I like Most of the survival shows but nobody will touch Ray, he's informative, gives historical evidence, isn't all about himself, He'll always be numero Uno IMO.

[@jimmycricket7385]

It's fascinating to get a glimpse into the lives our ancestors lived. And every human culture and race has had a similar ascent from stone age living to the modern day of mathematics and engineering and digital technology. And yet now most of us couldn't fix our plumbing if it went wrong. We've become siloed into a narrow set of skills outside of which most of us are totally incompetent.

[@paulsimeone2708]

Ray is a absolute legend of knowledge, the best on tv

[@robryan1933]

Ray Mears is still one of the best and most watchable survival experts. Bear Grylls is great but if most of us followed his adventures we would not survive

[@DRRCreations]

Absolutely fantastic video from one of my most watched childhood heroes! Thank you 🤘😀

[@Philip_Taylor]

Our Ray! Gem of a bloke.

[@undefeatedgaul3201]

Ray is the man

[@carpypete]

Brilliant programme. Well worth watching. Think Ray is a Brilliant narrator & guide. Going to watch the others.

[@jaydunstan1618]

100%.......Disagree.

[@Lionrhod212]

I loved what you said about being able to re-shape the iron, if it wasn't just quite right. I'd never really considered that, but it makes perfect sense. I've worked with lost wax casting, and that IS challenging as all hell to modify if you don't get it right the first time.

[@sophiabali3854]

Ray Mears the BEST ,ORIGINAL AND GENUINE ultimate survival expert. ❤❤

[@jaydunstan1618]

He is a man that does not even do his own ironing.

[@glendamears3618]

Great production Thankyou 😊

[@jess53nz]

This series was amazing!

[@kohinarec6580]

What a nice little documentary! As I develop RPG scenarios for friends and write lore for a friend, these are gems. They are introductory snippets that allow for more detailed spurces to be found.

[@paulthompson4088]

The depth of knowledge and skills Ray Mears has is stuff of legends. Modern survivalists should take the knee to him

[@jaydunstan1618]

Ask Google?

[@prometheus_beard]

Nice Ray, thanks.

[@simplylifeau]

Thanks for sharing this, fascinating and great to see Ray presenting…👍

[@clairhonnor6211]

Ray shows us the past and the way forward

[@thelegion_within]

wow ray mears! i havent seen him in decades. thanks for posting this!

[@dorsetwildlifefilms8230]

Love this information. Keep up the good work.

[@natbirchall1580]

Good to see Ray again

[@vixtex]

Thank you so much!

[@kimberlypatton205]

That small scythe was an innovation- then! And it would still take forever for many people harvesting each with one in a field… until the idea came for a slicing type to be invented which could slice through an entire swath of row- doing the work of several in one pass. The most valuable human gift is innovation striving to enhance ideas- our brains!

[@rajarahman9823]

Ahah. The bloke that time forgot. Survivalist/ Bushcraft, presenter of programs regarding the great outdoors. Watchin this video now, I got the impression, that Ray has become the David Attenborough of the Historical Period. And he appears to be enjoyin every moment. Nice to see Ray still willin to present, well written shows of great interest. Keep up the good work.

[@claraguzman6842]

That was super interesting. Thank you.

[@petergarrett6151]

Ray Mears Doc yes plz!

[@markbarber7839]

Thanks for the video.

[@75blackviking]

What a cool program. This guy has some very interesting information.

[@martin-1965]

Utterly fascinating, great experts joining Ray and superb perspective on the timeline of our history. What a pity if we eventually waste all that progress in greed and conflict but hopefully there is enough sense to not let that happen one day soon. A great watch regardless - five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@04williamsl]

24:30 - I remember going to a place in Iceland where families had lived in a cave. They'd brought in someone's family bed from about 100 years ago, to show how they'd have slept; their beds were also small like this, and from talking to the family, it was done because they believed if they slept laying down they'd stop breathing in the night and die. It wouldn't surprise me if people did die in the night due to the smoke, and so it became some sort of myth as opposed to them knowing it's due to the smoke/bad lungs, but it's well known in multiple countries that that's how people slept.

[@JohnSmall314]

" they believed if they slept laying down they'd stop breathing in the night and die." I wonder how many times the fire went low during the night and CO2 mixed with CO crept along the floor killing anyone lying down.

[@britinmadrid]

Great video (of course) - I look forward to more.

[@alansaund1741]

I just moved from London to Ramsgate It's the best thing I ever did like going back in time

[@samcalvert5104]

I love Ray get him back🎉

[@bosse641]

The pre-history age is so intriguing. So much we don't know about the distant past.

[@jaydunstan1618]

History started with Adam & Eve.

[@bosse641]

@@jaydunstan1618 ...Human history yes, but the history of the earth and universe goes back much much further than six thousand years.

[@R08Tam]

Really enjoyed this

[@54mgtf22]

Hey Ray. Love your work 👍

[@ColinFlowers]

Without doubt, Ray is a straight up, no messing about master in what he does! He could probably light a fire by rubbing 2 ice cubes together.

[@siramar6127]

Only Chuck Norris can do that 🤣

[@philholman8520]

Terrific video!