Iron Age leader and his chariot found in motorway excavation

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12/03/2003 | Paul Stokes

[Cicero]

Iron Age leader and his chariot found in motorway excavation By Paul Stokes (Filed: 03/12/2003)

Archaeologists working at the site of a £250 million motorway upgrading scheme have discovered the remains of an Iron Age leader buried in his chariot.

The find could provide a valuable insight into customs and social standings in pre-Roman northern England.

Carbon dating suggests the funeral took place between 400 and 500BC with evidence of a huge feast.

Chariot burial was reserved for people of high rank among the Parisii tribe, who lived in what is now east Yorkshire. They originated from northern France and gave the French capital its name.

Only a handful of such graves have been found. The latest discovery is only the second where the chariot was buried intact. It was 12 inches down in a ploughed field by the cooling towers of Ferrybridge power station, close to the intersection of the A1 and M62 in West Yorkshire.

Neil Redfern, English Heritage's inspector of ancient monuments for the county, said: "It has tremendous importance, posing all sorts of questions about what was happening in our country 2,500 years ago."

An archaeologist noticed the tops of the chariot's iron-bound wheels as earth moving machinery was being operated. The bones of its owner, whose age has been determined at between 30 and 40, and metal "tyres" of the 3ft spoked wheels remained in place. They were in a cavity hewn from the limestone.

Although the wooden chariot has rotted away, it has left stains and hollows which perfectly outline its shape.

Iron and bronze harness fittings have been recovered as well as grave goods, including an iron spear head and the bones of pork joints, probably offerings to the gods.

Angela Boyle, who is supervising the dig for the specialist group Oxford Archaeology, said thousands of cattle bones from the feast suggested "a person of great power who was revered by a large number of people".

Her team has carried out an emergency rescue dig before the bulldozers return and the grave disappears under an embankment.

[Zeroisanumber]

All known lefties with power are corrupt, despised and usually end up with defiled graves.

Yeah, that's why Wilson, Truman, and FDR are hated by the masses and rest in a field of cowflop. /sarcasm

[spokeshave]

" Iron Age leader and his chariot found in motorway excavation"

Yeah...he was trying to find his way out of one of those stupid English round-abouts.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Give the conservative gains some time to work. We'll get there. Wilson is unknown except to the minority in this country that reads. FDR and Truman have been gone less than 60 years. We'll build roads over their graves in a lot less time than 2,500 years.

[csvset]

Fyi bump

[blam]

Got it, thanks.

[csvset]

Here's a link to Oxford's Archaeology site's article about the chariot find.

The West Yorkshire Chariot Burial

[tertiary01]

I've never understood how most found objects at arc sites are either from "fertility rites" or were for religious rituals etc. until, I met a few of the people who dig them up. They are long on various theories expounded in our universities and often short on actual real life experiences. Also follow the funding, digs that just uncover regular boring household items are not exciting and less likely to get the money. As a result I am being cremated.

[Preech1]

Kinda reminds me of those guys who get buried in their Buicks...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I want a Viking funeral. They can have a bar-b-que, float me out to sea on a long boat, my bow and sword at my side and then set the whole thing on fire.

[narses]

Give us time. First we have got to get off the dime, FDR that is.

[tertiary01]

The "authorities" will then declared you a water pollutant and possible super fund site and your poor relatives will have to pay for the clean up.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Can I designate which relative should get the bill in my will?:)

They just need to do it more then twenty miles out. Nice boat trip. I will ascend to the heavens on fiery wings.

[SunkenCiv]

Just adding this to the GGG homepage, not sending a general distribution.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.

[KillTime]

Maybe he was related to this Race:

Archaeological Dig Uncovers Ancient Race Of Skeleton People