Archaeologists reckon that people buried dogs in the Iron Age with some form of ritual significance – that they might help to appease the spirits and underworld. This fits well with the idea that the dog was a guardian in the real world, extending its role into the unknown, beyond.

They suggest this one, buried in Cirencester somewhere between 400 BC and 200 BC, would have been a working dog and most likely resembles a modern terrier.

The Corinium Museum ran a competition to name this pooch, found in 2008, and they’ve gone with Rusty. Hi Rusty!

Image: Thanks to the Corinium Museum