Rethinking an Iron Age ‘war cemetery’

Rethinking an Iron Age ‘war cemetery’

From The English Heritage Podcast by English Heritage

February 19, 2026 · 46 min · Season 2 · Episode 44

About this episode

This episode explores the human remains found at Maiden Castle and their implications for understanding Iron Age Britain.

Was Maiden Castle really the site of a brutal Roman massacre? Or have we been telling the wrong story for decades? This vast Iron Age hillfort in Dorset is home to human remains that have shaped our understanding of conquest, conflict and resistance for nearly a century. In this episode, we return to the skeletons that made the site famous: young men, women and children bearing signs of violence, to find out what they can tell us about life and death in Iron Age Britain. Amy Matthews is joined by experts to unpack the latest research and investigate how new interpretations raise questions about the narratives and stories we take for granted. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠ Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.* Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only…

People in this episode

Host: Amy Matthews

Topics covered

  • Iron Age
  • archaeology
  • human remains
  • conflict
  • historical narratives

Keywords

  • Iron Age
  • Maiden Castle
  • archaeology
  • human remains
  • Roman massacre
  • conflict
  • Dorset

Sponsors

English Heritage

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: English Heritage, English Heritage Trust

Places: Maiden Castle, Dorset

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