During the 1968-78 excavations of the Roman vicus (a civilian settlement) next to the fort here at Malton, some unexpected ghostly figures appeared in the trenches beneath the settlement. Unexpectedly, these figures were frozen warriors reaching for a sword, caught mid-action, ready to spring into a fight.
Who Are They?
This dashing figure belongs to a mysterious local tradition of fashioning warrior figures from the chalk of East Yorkshire. Around 40–50 of these figurines survive today. For instance other warriors have been found haunting the soils at the Iron-Age farmstead sites at Garton/Wetwang Slack and Withernsea (Figure 2).
Figure 2. The Witnernsea Chalk Figurine on display in the Hull and East Riding Museum. This little fella is fashioned wearing a hooded cloak, belt and a sword on his back (Izi Travel nd).
Who Made Them?
Our chalk warrior was created during a turbulent century at roughly 100 BC to AD 100, just before the Romans entered the stage with their roads, baths, and bureaucracy.
It is likely that they belong to the Parisi tribe. These guys came from Gaul originally and settled in East Yorkshire (Figure 3).
This tribe brought with them their stunning metalwork and high status burials (Figure 3). They are said to have had been culturally advanced and helped civilise the Brigantes tribes to their north and west.
Archaeologist Paul Treherne wrote a study called The Warrior’s Beauty – essentially an “Iron Age GQ.” He gives us a tantalising glimpse into the mindset behind the Iron Age ‘craze’ for beauty. He thinks warriors were built physically, mentally, and aesthetically. Muscles? Essential. Posture? Perfected. Groomed? Absolutely. If you wanted to fight well, you had to look like a hero first.
Purpose?
We don’t know for sure what they were actually made for. What do we know? These guys were broken deliberately, others buried or discarded nearby water sources like the Lady Spring.
In the comment section, we would love to know what you all think.
Visit
Come find these little fellas in Malton Museum and take a selfie with them – they like the attention!
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