Chariots
Historical evidence.
Celtic chariots were a form of warfare that the Romans had serious problems with. It took them some time to find a way of dealing' with the devastating the effect the chariot had. Polybius, in his accounts of the lead up to the battle of Telamon in 225 BC., reports that the Gauls had 20,000 cavalry and chariots. This was the last reference to the use of chariots on the mainland. By the time Caesar encountered them in Britain, the method of fighting against the chariot had been forgotten. Diodorus said that the chariot was drawn by two horses, and could carry a driver and a warrior. In battle the driver controlled the chariot, whilst the warrior would throw javelins at his opponents. The warrior would then dismount and fight on foot while the driver would take the chariot away to a safe distance. At the first sign of difficulties, the driver would dash into the battle, pick up the warrior, and withdraw to safety. Caesar's account is similar, but adds that chariots were used against cavalry with great effect, and only against infantry in short skirmishes. Caesar admired the charioteer's skills, and described warriors running along the chariot pole and standing on the yoke over the horse's shoulders
Archaeological evidence.
Until a few years ago we had to rely on very little evidence, found on coins and gravestones, to give us an idea of what chariots looked like. In recent years, a number of graves containing chariots, have been excavated. There are some burials in France and Cyprus, and well preserved items have been dredged From a lake in La Tene. In Britain there have been a number of finds in Yorkshire. The finest comes from Garton Slack, found in 1971, where preservation was very good.
| These are some of the most important parts of the chariot |
 | Linch Pins. These drop into a hole in the axle and stop the wheel falling off. |
| Bit.> This goes in the horses mouth and is linked to the driver by the reins. This enables the horse to be steered |  |
 | <Slip Buckle. This was used for adjusting harness straps. |
| Photograph of a reconstruction of a wheel. Note the linch pin through the axle.> |  |
 | <Wheel construction. This shows the parts of a wheel with the hub in the middle, spokes radiating out, the fellow making up the rim, and held under compression with an iron tyre. |
| Terrets. These were fastened on the yoke and pole to guide the reins without tangling.> |  |
