Post by Graveyardbride on Mar 6, 2015 11:42:50 GMT -5
Tomb of Celtic Prince Discovered in France
An "exceptional" tomb from the 5th Century BC, likely that of a Celtic prince, has been unearthed on the outskirts of Lavau in France's Champagne region. The grave containing Greek and possibly Etruscan artefacts was discovered in a business zone, the National Archaeological Research Institute (Inrap) said. Researchers believe it could shed light on Iron Age European trade.
Finds include a bronze wine cauldron (above). A team from Inrap has been excavating the site since October of last year and has dated it to the end of the First Iron Age – a period characterized by the widespread use of the metal.
The burial mound, 130 feet across, has at its heart a 150-square-foot burial chamber containing the deceased and his chariot.
"It is probably a local Celtic prince," Inrap president Dominique Garcia told journalists on a site visit. Inrap said it is one of the largest recorded burial chambers for this period and is "exceptional" not only because of its size, but also for the quality of the material unearthed.
The 5th and 6th Centuries BC were characterized by the rise of Etruscan and Greek city states like Marseille in southern France. Mediterranean merchants, seeking slaves, metals and other precious goods, opened trading channels with continental Celts.
Source: BBC News, March 5, 2015.