For ease of reference, the Western European Standard dates of the development of technology are listed below.
Mesolithic - 15,000 to 5,000 BC.
Neolithic - 5,000 to 2,000 BC.
Bronze Age - 2,000 to 1,200 BC.
Iron Age - 1,200 BC to 43 AD (Roman Invasion).
The date ranges above are accepted for reference purposes, in reality they are very approximate as each era overlaps depending upon when the technological changes involved arrived in any given area of Europe. Being an island, the British Isles tended to lag behind the European mainland in moving on from one technology to the next. Analysis of finds shows that, although the occasional earlier item was recovered, the majority of recovered Iron Age finds were dated from 500 B.C onwards and it was probably the arrival of the Roman Army with its more modern weapons and equipment that moved Britannia forward.
Overview.
There is very little documentary evidence, if any, of the existence of the village of Wrangle prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is necessary, therefore, to analyse the information available from the archeological investigations which have taken place in the parish of Wrangle and the surrounding area in order to build a "picture" of the possible/probable development of that area of Lincolnshire which became known as Wrangle village.
Research indicates that the area occupied by the village was part of the "land bridge" between what is now mainland Europe and the British Isles. This "bridge" would have allowed the movement of flora and fauna, including human, in the periods between the Ice Ages when Glaciers covered the land. Following the last of the "Ice Ages" the first bands of hunter/gatherers are believed to have crossed approximately 11,000 years ago. Being hunters, it is not unreasonable to assume they traversed this area during their travels.
Approximately 8,000 years ago, during the Mesolithic period, a large section of the coastal sea bed, to the west of Norway, slipped free and slid into the deeper water. This resulted in a massive tsunami which travelled both north and south resulting in the flooding of the land bridge. This flood and the subsequent backwash caused the formation of what is now known as The North Sea and The English Channel. The easy movement of flora and fauna ceased and the British Isles were formed. Lincolnshire now had an active coastline with tidal interaction.
From the records of sea level taken at numerous locations around the Atlantic coastline it would seem that the sea level at this time was, approximately, 30 metres below the modern mean sea level (ODN). Over the next six thousand years the sea level rose slowly, but not continuously, until around 500 BC, the beginning of the Iron age. Over the next five to six hundred years sea levels dropped until about A.D.100. Records indicate that, at this time, more land was available for occupation than at any other time since before the Iron Age.
The results of archelogical investigations carried by numerous organisations show that there was a thriving cross-channel trading relationship between the British Isles and the continent of Europe during the years before the Roman invasion of Britain. Artifacts recovered from excavations in the Lincolnshire region have been dated as far back as the Neolithic Age. Part of this trade involved the movement of precious metals, slaves, and domestic goods in each direction. When the Roman Empire expanded into France, then part of Gaul, it is no surprise that the eyes of Rome turned towards the British Isles.
Pre-Historic Lincolnshire.
Prior to the Roman invasion Britain was divided into numerous large and small tribal territories (see below) and warfare often occured as each tribal leader sought to expand their territory. The county of Lincolnshire was a large part of the territory controlled by the Coritani. The first reference to the Coritani is believed to be by Cladius Ptolemy in his "Geography", c. A.D.125-150 where he refers to a town called Lindum located between the Brigantes in the North and the Catuvelleni in the Midlands. Julius Caesar, in his diaries, also refers to the Coritani and to the Belgic immigrants living in the coastal regions.
Tribal Map of Britain.
A List of Locations in Wrangle where Pre-Roman Artifacts were found.
Each item has a location and brief description. For more detailed information please go to the Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer Website and search for Wrangle. Each MLI reference will give a map and a more detailed description. A map of the locations listed below is in process and will be available when completed.
1 - MLI 12678 - Iron Age Saltern - TF 4140 5310 (Within the King's Hill site).
16 - MLI 12805 - Saltern Sites - Early Iron Age to Roman.
TF 431 529
TF 432 528
TF 4311 5288 (Area 279m x 322m).
11 - MLI 12811 - 2 Iron Age Salterns - TF 4160 5390.
6 - MLI 12813 - Early Bronze Age Stone Hammer - TF 411? 523? (Estimated by finder).
1 - MLI 12814 - Early Bronze Age Stone Hammer - TF 4330 5250.
2 - MLI 12816 - Early Bronze Age Stone Hammer - TF 421? 509? (Estimated by finder).
3 - MLI 12971 - Iron Age Artifacts - TF 4279 5231.
4 - MLI 13102 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4418 5268.
5 - MLI 13105 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4382 5292 (Area 193m x 189m).
6 - MLI 13116 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4437 5265 (Estimated by finder).
7 - MLI 13126 - Bronze Age Potsherd - TF 4307 5449 (Estimated by finder).
8 - MLI 13129 - Iron Age Pottery Scatter - TF 4430 5214.
9 - MLI 13149 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4203 5356 (Area 60m x 6m).
10 - MLI 13150 - Multiple Iron Age Finds (Possible Saltern) - TF4145 5314 ( Area 0.24 H)
11 - MLI 13155 - Possible Iron Age Saltern/Settlement - TF 4122 5320.
12 - MLI 13158 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4150 5213 (Area 28m x 27m).
13 - MLI 13160 - Iron Age Saltern TF 4204 5160 (Area 39m x 38m).
14 - MLI 13163 - Iron Age Pottery (Found in a Roman settlement) - TF 4194 5328.
15 - MLI 13165 - Pre-historic Material - TF 4246 5045 (Area 18m x 44m).
16 - MLI 13169 - Flint Scatter - Neolithic to late Bronze Age - TF 4192 5127 (Area 100m x 85m).
17 - MLI 13180 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4264 5313.
18 - MLI 13183 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4239 5342.
19 - MLI 13184 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4187 5186 (Area 57m x 56m).
20 - MLI 13187 - Iron Age Saltern - TF 4269 5227 (Area 16m x 17m).
21 - MLI 13192 - Bronze Age Potsherd - TF 4307 5449.
22 - MLI 13196 - Bronze Age Potsherd - TF 4204 5158.
23 - MLI 13197 - Flint Scatter - Neolithic to late Bronze Age - TF 4250 5065 (Area 27m x 28m).
24 - MLI 13198 - Flint Scatter - Neolithic to Bronze Age - TF 4245 5119 (Area 11m x 11m).
25 - MLI 13204 - Iron Age Saltern - TF 4220 5220.
26 - MLI 13205 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4226 5169 (Area 27m x 27m).
27 - MLI 13212 - Iron Age Pottery - TF 4128 5308.
28 - MLI 13227 - Saltern - Iron Age to Roman ( 800 AD. to 409 AD.) - TF 4226 5235 (Area 26m x 26m).
29 - MLI 13245 - Possible Iron Age Saltern - TF 4150 5212 (Area 28m x 27m).
30 - MLI 13252 - Pre-Historic Flints (Various Ages) TF 4357 5233 (Area 35m x 36m).
31 - MLI 13257 - Iron Age Site - TF 4354 5287.
32 - MLI 81217 - Bronze Age Flint Flake - Redeposited - TF 4232 5310.
Conclusion.
From the above information it can be seen that there was definite movement across the area during the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages although, when considering single items, the reader must take into account the possibility of displacement of the item by sea incursion and tidal action. However, during the Iron Age there was definite movement into the area for the purpose of Salt production. Although there are numerous confirmed and possible salterns, only one possible settlement site is listed and this may have been a temporary occupation while working at the saltern which also listed. It is also possible that, during the following Roman occupation, the workers in a saltern are more likely to be local inhabitants (used as slaves) rather than Roman, or high ranking Briton, citizens doing the work and they would be using the methods known to them before the invasion to produce Salt.