Iron Age Warrior with Roman Links Found in U.K.
Goalie of the Century
Iron Age Warrior with Roman Links Found in U.K.
James Owen for National Geographic News August 8, 2008
The grave of an ancient British warrior with tantalizing Roman
connections has been unearthed in southern England, archaeologists say.
The 2,000-year-old skeleton of the tribal king or nobleman was found
buried with military trappings, including a bronze helmet and an ornate
shield both of a style previously unknown in Britain, experts say.
The Iron Age man, who died in his 30s, was discovered in June at the
site of a new housing development in North Bersted on England's
south-eastern coast.
'What we've found is of national and international importance,' said dig
team member Mark Taylor, senior archaeologist at West Sussex County
Council.
Unique Discoveries
Pottery - including three large jars placed at the foot of the grave -
date the site to between A.D. 40 and A.D. 60, the team said.
A bronze shield boss was found along with semicircular latticework
plates that are thought to have decorated the shield.
The ornate artwork is unique 'certainly in the U.K. and Europe, as far
as we know,' Taylor said.
The scroll patterning most closely resembles that of mainland Europe's
La Tène culture, named after a late Iron Age site in Switzerland,
Taylor noted.
The domed helmet likely had a similar origin, according to John
Creighton, an archaeologist from the University of Reading.
Creighton, who specializes in the late Iron Age period, said it appears
to be a Celtic-style Mannheim helmet - the first one ever found in
Britain.
While the helmet originated in Gaul - the ancient Roman name for a
region of western Europe - it was also worn by Roman soldiers, Creighton
noted.
A greater mystery is a large, iron-framed structure that was placed on
top of the warrior's body.
The study team suspects the object was a household item intended for use
in the afterlife rather than the remains of a coffin.
'My hunch is that it was some usable part of the domestic riches that
went into the grave with this chap.' Taylor said.
The corroded object may have been a 'fire dog' which was used to burn
wood inside the home, he suggested.
Roman Alliances
Experts say the burial may provide important new evidence of Roman
influence in the region before the Roman conquest of England in A.D. 43.
Alliances forged by the Romans with southern tribal kings after Julius
Caesar arrived in 55 B.C. are thought to have involved taking hostages.
'One of the tempting and really exciting prospects is that the find
might fulfil the theory that the sons of nobility may have been sent to
Rome or sent abroad to undertake military training or to complete their
education.' team member Taylor said.
'It was all part of the empire-building process of that time to secure
loyal, high-status client kings in the countries that were to become
part of the Roman Empire.'
Creighton, of the University of Reading, says the newly discovered grave
adds to recent 'astonishing finds of metalwork demonstrating a close
link between Britain and the Roman world in the years before the
conquest.'
Astonishing Finds
Scientific analysis of the warrior may reveal more evidence of Roman
links, experts say.
'Hopefully, in six months … we'll have a lot more information,' Taylor
said.
For example, isotope analysis will reveal the chemical signature of the
water the warrior drank, which could show if he lived overseas in his
youth.
The tests may similarly indicate his diet, according to Steve Ford,
director of Thames Valley Archaeological Services, which led the
excavation.
'We might also find out what killed him - whether there had been any
traumas such as broken bones or knife wounds,' Ford said.
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Goalie of the Century
FCS
> <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080808-british-warrio...>
>
> Iron Age Warrior with Roman Links Found in U.K.
>
> James Owen for National Geographic News August 8, 2008
>
>
> A greater mystery is a large, iron-framed structure that was placed on
> top of the warrior's body.
Iron being classically cited as how The Romans
subjugated The Greeks--and the rest of Europe.
> The study team suspects the object was a household item intended for use
> in the afterlife rather than the remains of a coffin.
>
> 'My hunch is that it was some usable part of the domestic riches that
> went into the grave with this chap.' Taylor said.
>
> The corroded object may have been a 'fire dog' which was used to burn
> wood inside the home, he suggested.
>
Or it could have had some kind of deeper semiotic value.
>
> Experts say the burial may provide important new evidence of Roman
> influence in the region before the Roman conquest of England in A.D. 43.
>
> Alliances forged by the Romans with southern tribal kings after Julius
> Caesar arrived in 55 B.C. are thought to have involved taking hostages.
Which implies there would have been turncoats and traitors.
But also, if there were more peaceable links, that noble
sons might have trained as iron workers--a risky trade.
(bit snipped, see full text above)
> 'It was all part of the empire-building process of that time to secure
> loyal, high-status client kings in the countries that were to become
> part of the Roman Empire.'
>
> Creighton, of the University of Reading, says the newly discovered grave
> adds to recent 'astonishing finds of metalwork demonstrating a close
> link between Britain and the Roman world in the years before the
> conquest.'
It's a pity there was no room to show links to any pictures of
this grave.
G DAEB
COPYRIGHT (C) 2008 SIPSTON
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