Huge tomb of Celtic prince unearthed in France: 'Exceptional' 2,500-year-old burial chamber reveals stunning treasures
- The grave was crammed with Greek and possibly Etruscan artefacts
- The prince is buried with his chariot at the centre of a huge mound,
- 130ft (40 metres) burial mound from 5th Century remains unopened
- Biggest find was a bronze-decorated cauldron used to store wine
- Mausoleum contained a ceramic wine pitcher made by the Greeks
- The burial chamber is one of the largest recorded for this period
The tomb of an Iron Age Celtic prince has been unearthed in a small French town.
The
'exceptional' grave, crammed with Greek and possibly Etruscan
artefacts, was discovered in a business zone on the outskirts of Lavau
in France's Champagne region.
The
prince is buried with his chariot at the centre of a huge mound, 130
feet (40 metres) across, which has been dated to the 5th Century BC.
The biggest find at the site was a
huge wine cauldron. Standing on the handles of the cauldron, is the
Greek god Acheloos. The river deity is shown with horns, a beard, the
ears of a bull and a triple mustache
A team from the National Archaeological Research Institute, Inrap has been excavating the site since October last year.
They recently dated it to the end of the First Iron Age - a period characterised by the widespread use of the metal.
Its discovery could shed light on Iron Age European trade, researchers say.
The 2,500-year-old burial mound has at its heart a 14 square metre burial chamber, not yet opened, of an ancient royal.
An Iron Age Celtic prince lay buried
with his chariot at the center of this huge mound in the Champagne
region of France, according to the country's National Archaeological
Research Institute (Inrap)
Eight
lioness heads decorate the edge of the cauldron (right). Inside the
cauldron, the archaeologists found a ceramic wine vessel, called
oniochoe (left)
A team from the National
Archaeological Research Institute, Inrap has been excavating the site
since October last year. Pictured is part of the cauldron found
'It is probably a local Celtic prince,' Inrap president Dominique Garcia told journalists on a field visit.
The
most exciting find, he said, was a large bronze-decorated cauldron that
was used to store watered-down wine. It appears to have been made by
Etruscan craftsmen from an area that is today in Italy.
The cauldron has four circular handles decorated with bronze heads that depict the Greek god Acheloos.
The river deity is shown with horns, a beard, the ears of a bull and a triple mustache.
Eight lioness heads decorate the edge of the cauldron.
The mausoleum contained a decorated ceramic wine pitcher made by the Greeks.
Decorations on the vessel reveal the god Dionysus, lying under a vine and facing a woman.
The archaeologists also found remains of a iron wheel, from a chariot buried with the prince.
Another
interesting discovery was a perforated silver spoon that was part of
the banquet utensils, presumably to filter the wine.
The major
find so far has been a large bronze-decorated wine cauldron, most likely
made by Greek or Etruscans craftsmen (left). On the right is a
perforated silver spoon that was part of the banquet utensils,
presumably to filter the wine
The pieces 'are evidence of the
exchanges that happened between the Mediterranean and the Celts,' said
Garcia. Researchers say excavation at the site will be complete at the
end of this month
The pieces 'are evidence of the exchanges that happened between the Mediterranean and the Celts,' said Garcia.
Inrap said burial chamber is one of the largest recorded for this period.
The
end of the sixth and beginning of the fifth centuries BC were
characterised by the rise of Etruscan and Greek city states like
Marseilles in southern France.
Mediterranean merchants, seeking slaves, metals and other precious goods, opened trading channels with continental Celts.
The
Celts gained valuable objects of Greek and Etruscan origin as a result
of the trade. Many have been found in other mounds in Heuneburg and
Hochdorf in Germany.
Researchers say excavation at the site will be complete at the end of this month.
The 2,500-year-old burial mound has at its heart a 14 square metre burial chamber, not yet opened, of an ancient royal
The discovery, which has been described as 'exceptional', was made in Lavau, eastern France
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