Thetford dig unearths Iron Age war trumpet and boar standard

Archaeologists were stunned to discover two of the rarest Iron Age objects in the same dig.

The Pre-Construct Archeology team were working on a building site a few miles from Thetford, Norfolk, when they came across the treasure last year.

At its heart was the most complete battle trumpet, or carnyx, ever found in Europe – and the very first boar’s head standard ever found in Britain.

Gary Trimble, senior manager of the project, told BBC Two’s Digging for Britain that carnyces “are extraordinarily rare… a wild boar stallion is even rarer”.

“We have our share of treasures in Norfolk, but here it’s so different, it’s really very special,” he added.

Excavation leader Peter Crawley said he had a hunch about the site before the dig began.

“It seemed like one of those special sites that you visit from time to time,” he said.

A war trumpet was used by Celtic tribes throughout Europe to intimidate their enemies and to inspire and direct warriors during battle.

They included the Iceni tribe of East Anglia, led by Queen Boudica during her failed uprising against the Romans in AD 60 and 61.

The Carnyces fascinated the Romans, who frequently represented them as war trophies.

Curator Jonathan Carr said Thetford’s discovery was made “from extremely thin sheets of metal which became extremely brittle after 2,000 years in the ground”.

As well as being one of three carnyxes discovered in Britain, it was “the most complete carnyx ever found, with the pipe, mouthpiece and bell all intact”, he added.

Dr Fraser Hunter, Curator of Iron Age and Roman Era at National Museums Scotland, said: “I have examined carnyces from across Europe, and the comprehensive research and conservation of these incredibly fragile remains will reshape our view of sound and music in the Iron Age. »

The boar’s head standard was made of sheet bronze. It would have been waved in battle as a flag and used as a rallying point for troops.

Hunter said: “These were very fierce animals to face when hunting, so the symbolism of the boar depends largely on its strength – a very suitable opponent in combat.”

The hoard, which dates to around 50 BC and 50 AD, included five shield bosses and an iron object of unknown origin.

After its discovery, it was carefully removed from the earth in a dirt block and scanned to determine where the objects were positioned, before conservation began.

The discovery has been reported to the coroner and an inquest will be held to determine whether it is treasure. Its long-term future is not yet decided.

Historic England is working with Pre-Construct Archaeology, the Norfolk Museums Service and the National Museum of Scotland to coordinate research and conservation of the finds.

Dr Tim Pestell, Senior Curator of Archeology at Norfolk Museums Service, said: “This discovery is a powerful reminder of Norfolk’s Iron Age past which, through the history of Boudica and the Iceni people, still retains its capacity to fascinate the British public.

“The Norfolk Carnyx Hoard will provide archaeologists with an unprecedented opportunity to investigate a number of rare objects and ultimately tell the story of how they came to be buried in the county 2,000 years ago.”

Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-CEOs of Historic England, said it was a “remarkable discovery”.

“We look forward to discovering and sharing the history of the Norfolk community that owned and used these items,” the pair added.

The story of the discovery will be featured on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain on January 14 at 9:00 p.m. GMT, or on BBC iPlayer.