A group of remarkable burials appeared in central southern England between 2000 and 1400 BC, the early examples containing rich and exceptionally fine grave goods, including bronze daggers and axes, shell beads and buttons and amber and gold ornaments. Imported objects indicate the existence of links with continental Europe.
Later graves contained cremations and no goldwork, but were still richly furnished and included beads made of faience (an attractive blue glassy material made from quartz sand, soda and copper ore).
Together these burials represent what is known as the Wessex Culture. They indicate a strong form of hierarchy associated with prestige and personal wealth.
The Wessex area's pre-eminence probably relates to its central position in respect to trade routes of the time, giving access to, for example, gold from Ireland, tin from Cornwall, copper from Wales and prestige goods from Europe, and controlling the onward movement of these goods and materials.
