A 2000-year-old figurine depicting a Celtic fertility God has been uncovered in an old Roman settlement by archaeologists in farmland in Cambridgeshire.
The discovery shows there were strong links between the ancient people of Britain and Roman legionary during their occupation of Britain between 100BC and 150AD.
The two-inch metal individual has no face and shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, often just merging gods with their own.
The small figure's face has been worn away and holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos', the Celtic god of nature, life and the underworld...
Rare 2,000-year-old figurine of a horned Celtic fertility god dating back to a Roman-era settlement is uncovered in Cambridgeshire
Metal figure is just two inches big and has no face because it was rubbed off
Small individual holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos'
It shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, often merging Gods
Experts have likened it to finding a worn version of Jesus on a crucifix
By Victoria Bell For Mailonline
12 December 2018
A 2000-year-old figurine depicting a Celtic fertility God has been uncovered in an old Roman settlement by archaeologists in farmland in Cambridgeshire.
The discovery shows there were strong links between the ancient people of Britain and Roman legionary during their occupation of Britain between 100BC and 150AD.
The two-inch metal individual has no face and shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, often just merging gods with their own.
The small figure's face has been worn away and holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos', the Celtic god of nature, life and the underworld.
It dates back to the second century AD in which time the area was a rural settlement from the Late Iron Age to the Early Roman period.
The 2000-year-old figurine was found at the National Trust's Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire. The small figure's face has been worn away and holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos', the Celtic god of nature, life and the underworld.
Similar figures of Cernunnos have been found carved in stone, but it is the only metal figurine of this Celtic god known in Britain, according to the National Trust.
It was found by archaeologists on the National Trust's Wimpole Estate, who have likened the figure to finding a worn version of Jesus on a crucifix.
The settlement is believed to have been at the centre of a strong trading network, with around 300 metal objects uncovered during the dig.
Other discoveries included coins, horse harness fittings, Roman military uniforms, a spearhead, an axe head, key handles, brooches and a ring.
Stephen Macaulay, the Deputy Regional Manager at Oxford Archaeology East carried out the excavation outlined its importance of the finding.
Mr Macaulay said: 'The face of the figurine has been rubbed away, but we see similar figures of Cernunnos, so it's like finding a worn version of Jesus on a crucifix, it's the shape you expect to see.
'He was an important God to the Celts, but this shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, they often just merged the Gods with their own.
The settlement is believed to have been at the centre of a strong trading network, with around 300 metal objects uncovered during the dig. The discoveries included coins, horse harness fittings, Roman military uniforms, a spearhead, an axe head, key handles, brooches and a ring
Similar figures of Cernunnos have been found carved in stone, pictured here is an example, but it is the only metal figurine of this Celtic god known in Britain, according to the National Trust
The Romans really ran their empire like the British did, they would conquer and then reinstate the people who had already been in charge.
'The Wimpole story is interesting as it gives us a snapshot of local people living alongside the legionnaires as they travelled up and down the country along Ermine Street.'
The figurine is being cleaned, catalogued and analysed and will form the basis of future exhibitions at Wimpole.
The figurine is being cleaned, catalogued and analysed and will form the basis of future exhibitions at Wimpole
Shannon Hogan, National Trust Archaeologist for the East of England, said: 'This is an incredibly exciting discovery, which to me represents more than just the deity, Cernunnos.
'It almost seems like the enigmatic 'face' of the people living in the landscape some 2,000 years ago.
'The artefact is Roman in origin but symbolises a Celtic deity and therefore exemplifies the continuation of indigenous religious and cultural symbolism in Romanised societies.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/science...c-fertility-god-uncovered-Cambridgeshire.html
The discovery shows there were strong links between the ancient people of Britain and Roman legionary during their occupation of Britain between 100BC and 150AD.
The two-inch metal individual has no face and shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, often just merging gods with their own.
The small figure's face has been worn away and holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos', the Celtic god of nature, life and the underworld...
Rare 2,000-year-old figurine of a horned Celtic fertility god dating back to a Roman-era settlement is uncovered in Cambridgeshire
Metal figure is just two inches big and has no face because it was rubbed off
Small individual holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos'
It shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, often merging Gods
Experts have likened it to finding a worn version of Jesus on a crucifix
By Victoria Bell For Mailonline
12 December 2018
A 2000-year-old figurine depicting a Celtic fertility God has been uncovered in an old Roman settlement by archaeologists in farmland in Cambridgeshire.
The discovery shows there were strong links between the ancient people of Britain and Roman legionary during their occupation of Britain between 100BC and 150AD.
The two-inch metal individual has no face and shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, often just merging gods with their own.
The small figure's face has been worn away and holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos', the Celtic god of nature, life and the underworld.
It dates back to the second century AD in which time the area was a rural settlement from the Late Iron Age to the Early Roman period.
The 2000-year-old figurine was found at the National Trust's Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire. The small figure's face has been worn away and holds a 'torc' or a neck ring which represents 'Cernunnos', the Celtic god of nature, life and the underworld.
Similar figures of Cernunnos have been found carved in stone, but it is the only metal figurine of this Celtic god known in Britain, according to the National Trust.
It was found by archaeologists on the National Trust's Wimpole Estate, who have likened the figure to finding a worn version of Jesus on a crucifix.
The settlement is believed to have been at the centre of a strong trading network, with around 300 metal objects uncovered during the dig.
Other discoveries included coins, horse harness fittings, Roman military uniforms, a spearhead, an axe head, key handles, brooches and a ring.
Stephen Macaulay, the Deputy Regional Manager at Oxford Archaeology East carried out the excavation outlined its importance of the finding.
Mr Macaulay said: 'The face of the figurine has been rubbed away, but we see similar figures of Cernunnos, so it's like finding a worn version of Jesus on a crucifix, it's the shape you expect to see.
'He was an important God to the Celts, but this shows how accepting the Romans were of other religions, they often just merged the Gods with their own.
The settlement is believed to have been at the centre of a strong trading network, with around 300 metal objects uncovered during the dig. The discoveries included coins, horse harness fittings, Roman military uniforms, a spearhead, an axe head, key handles, brooches and a ring
Similar figures of Cernunnos have been found carved in stone, pictured here is an example, but it is the only metal figurine of this Celtic god known in Britain, according to the National Trust
The Romans really ran their empire like the British did, they would conquer and then reinstate the people who had already been in charge.
'The Wimpole story is interesting as it gives us a snapshot of local people living alongside the legionnaires as they travelled up and down the country along Ermine Street.'
The figurine is being cleaned, catalogued and analysed and will form the basis of future exhibitions at Wimpole.
The figurine is being cleaned, catalogued and analysed and will form the basis of future exhibitions at Wimpole
Shannon Hogan, National Trust Archaeologist for the East of England, said: 'This is an incredibly exciting discovery, which to me represents more than just the deity, Cernunnos.
'It almost seems like the enigmatic 'face' of the people living in the landscape some 2,000 years ago.
'The artefact is Roman in origin but symbolises a Celtic deity and therefore exemplifies the continuation of indigenous religious and cultural symbolism in Romanised societies.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/science...c-fertility-god-uncovered-Cambridgeshire.html