A unique collection of Iron Age metal artefacts has shed new light on the feasting rituals of prehistoric communities near Leicester around 2,300 years ago.
Experts uncovered a trove of ancient buried treasures during excavation works for a warehouse development project.
Rare objects, including cauldrons, pins, a brooch and a copper 'horn-cap' which may have been used in a ceremonial staff, suggest the importance of ceremony at the site.
Researchers believe the wide range of dates for the burial of the items hints at repeated use of the village to host lavish gatherings.
Elaborate feasting rituals of prehistoric people living in Leicester are revealed by stunning cauldrons ceremoniously buried 2,300 years ago
Experts uncovered the buried objects during excavation works for a warehouse
The haul included cauldrons, pins, a brooch and a ceremonial copper 'horn-cap'
Researchers believe the site was used over centuries as a host for lavish feasts
CT scans revealed rich cauldron decorations emphasising the site's importance
By Tim Collins For Mailonline
28 November 2017
A unique collection of Iron Age metal artefacts has shed new light on the feasting rituals of prehistoric communities near Leicester around 2,300 years ago.
Experts uncovered a trove of ancient buried treasures during excavation works for a warehouse development project.
Rare objects, including cauldrons, pins, a brooch and a copper 'horn-cap' which may have been used in a ceremonial staff, suggest the importance of ceremony at the site.
Researchers believe the wide range of dates for the burial of the items hints at repeated use of the village to host lavish gatherings.
A unique collection of Iron Age metal artefacts has shed new light on the feasting rituals of prehistoric communities in the UK around 2,300 years ago. Experts uncovered a trove of ancient treasures, including this rare cooking cauldron
A team of scientists from the University of Leicester's Archaeological Services (ULAS) made the discovery, at a site called Glenfield Park, on the outskirts of Leicester.
Early settlement of the village took place from around the 5th and 4th century BC, and radiocarbon dating shows that, by the 4th or 3rd century BC, the settlement underwent striking changes in character.
Individual roundhouses became enclosed and settlers began deliberately burying metallic items in a ritualistic fashion.
The cauldrons and other finds at Glenfield Park are the result of a series of events that took place over a considerable length of time, resulting in multiple burials across the history of the settlement.
These repeated acts mark the site out as a potential ritual and ceremonial centre that played host to large feasts.
John Thomas, director of the excavation and Project Officer for ULAS, said: 'Glenfield Park is an exceptional archaeological site, with a fantastic array of finds that highlight this as one of the more important discoveries of recent years.
'It is the metalwork assemblage that really sets this settlement apart.
'The quantity and quality of the finds far outshines most of the other contemporary assemblages from the area, and its composition is almost unparalleled.
Most of the cauldrons appear to have been deliberately laid in a large circular enclosure ditch that surrounded a building. They are made from several separate parts, comprising iron rims (pictured) and upper bands, hemispherical copper alloy bowls and two iron ring handles
'The cauldron assemblage in particular makes this a nationally important discovery.
'They represent the most northerly discovery of such objects on mainland Britain and the only find of this type of cauldron in the East Midlands.'
Most of the cauldrons appear to have been deliberately laid in a large circular enclosure ditch that surrounded a building.
CT scans (pictured) revealed exceptionally rare evidence for decoration from the period, further highlighting the significance of the site
The cauldrons appear to have been a variety of sizes, with rims ranging between 14 inches and 22 inches in diameter. The total capacity of all of the cauldrons is approximately 120 gallons
They had been placed in either upright or inverted positions, before the ditch was filled in, suggesting that they were buried to mark the cessation of activities associated with this part of the site.
Other cauldrons were found buried across the site, suggesting that significant events were being marked over a long period of time as the settlement developed.
The cauldrons are made from several separate parts, comprising iron rims and upper bands, hemispherical copper alloy bowls and two iron ring handles attached to the upper band.
They appear to have been a variety of sizes, with rims ranging between 14 inches and 22 inches in diameter.
The total capacity of all of the cauldrons is approximately 120 gallons.
This illustrates their potential to provide for large groups of people that may have gathered at the settlement from the wider Iron Age community of the area.
Dr Thomas added: 'Due to their large capacity it is thought that Iron Age cauldrons were reserved for special occasions and would have been important social objects, forming the centrepiece of major feasts, perhaps in association with large gatherings and events.
'The importance of cauldrons as symbolic objects is reflected in their frequent appearance in early medieval Irish and Welsh literature, which has been drawn upon in studies of Iron Age society.
'They are rarely found in large numbers and, with the exception of a discovery in Chiseldon, where 17 cauldrons were found in a pit, there have been few excavated examples in recent years.'
The cauldrons are extremely fragile and were lifted from site in soil blocks for later analysis.
The cauldrons and other finds at Glenfield Park are the result of a series of events that took place over a considerable length of time, resulting in multiple burials across the history of the settlement. This image shows an iron spearhead just after it was discovered
The repeated burial acts mark the site out as a potential ritual and ceremonial centre that played host to large feasts. This image shows a copper alloy horn-cap, which may have been part of a ceremonial staff
Experts say the quantity and quality of the finds far outshines most of the other sites dating from the time in the area. This images shows a complex iron brooch
The finds also represent the most northerly discovery of the type of objects uncovered on mainland Britain and the only find of this type of cauldron in the East Midlands. This image shows a copper alloy ring-headed dress pin
They were initially investigated at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre in Middlesex, a leading medical imaging centre specialising in cancer which had CT-scanning equipment large enough to accommodate the soil blocks.
The scans provided useful information in terms of the cauldron orientation, approximate dimensions and profiles, as well as tantalising glimpses of manufacturing methods.
Most excitingly, the scans also revealed exceptionally rare evidence for decoration from the period, further highlighting the significance of the site.
One example is on a complete cauldron, which has raised stem and leaf motifs on the vessels iron band, close to the handle locations, which are similar to the so-called 'Vegetal Style' of Celtic art, generally dated to the 4th century BC.
The cauldrons are extremely fragile and were lifted from site in soil blocks for later analysis at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre in Middlesex
This image shows another CT scan taken at the leading medical imaging centre, which specialises in cancer and had CT-scanning equipment large enough to accommodate the soil blocks containing the cauldrons
Further detail from the cauldrons will only be possible from excavation and conservation, which is being undertaken by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA). This image shows a circular repair patch on the base of a cauldron revealed during conservation by MOLA
Another example of decoration has been identified on a small copper alloy bowl fragment, which has a domed rivet or raised boss decoration, suggesting that some of the bowls carried decoration too.
Further detail from the cauldrons will only be possible from excavation and conservation, which is being undertaken by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA).
Liz Barham, Senior Conservator at MOLA said: 'Already we have been able to uncover glimpses of the detailed histories of these cauldrons through CT scanning, including evidence of their manufacture and repair, and have identified sooty residues still clinging to the base of one of the cauldrons from the last time it was suspended over a fire.
'During the upcoming conservation we hope to discover much more about the entire assemblage.
'If we're lucky, we may even find food residues from the last time they were used , over 2,000 years ago.'
A team of scientists from the University of Leicester's Archaeological Services made the discovery on the outskirts of Leicester
The Iron Age site was found at a location called Glenfield Park, during excavation works for a warehouse development project
FEASTING RITUALS
Cauldrons are an iconic, if poorly understood class of artefact, according to the British Museum.
They are substantial vessels capable of containing large quantities of food or liquid and it is probable that they were not used for everyday purposes.
Instead, they were likely used for boiling meat or heating alcoholic drinks, such as beer or mead, in communal feasting ceremonies.
In the Iron Age, feasts were extremely important social events, used to celebrate religious festivals, mark rites of passage or even just to show off.
Communal drinking and feasting, particularly the regulated distribution of alcoholic beverages, were central to establishing and maintaining social relationships.
Sharing food and drink simultaneously communicated messages of membership and exclusion and served to rank individuals in relation to one another.
The cauldrons found had been placed in either upright or inverted positions, before the ditch was filled in, suggesting that they were buried to mark the cessation of activities associated with this part of the site.
Read more: Cauldrons shed light on Iron Age feasting rituals | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Experts uncovered a trove of ancient buried treasures during excavation works for a warehouse development project.
Rare objects, including cauldrons, pins, a brooch and a copper 'horn-cap' which may have been used in a ceremonial staff, suggest the importance of ceremony at the site.
Researchers believe the wide range of dates for the burial of the items hints at repeated use of the village to host lavish gatherings.
Elaborate feasting rituals of prehistoric people living in Leicester are revealed by stunning cauldrons ceremoniously buried 2,300 years ago
Experts uncovered the buried objects during excavation works for a warehouse
The haul included cauldrons, pins, a brooch and a ceremonial copper 'horn-cap'
Researchers believe the site was used over centuries as a host for lavish feasts
CT scans revealed rich cauldron decorations emphasising the site's importance
By Tim Collins For Mailonline
28 November 2017
A unique collection of Iron Age metal artefacts has shed new light on the feasting rituals of prehistoric communities near Leicester around 2,300 years ago.
Experts uncovered a trove of ancient buried treasures during excavation works for a warehouse development project.
Rare objects, including cauldrons, pins, a brooch and a copper 'horn-cap' which may have been used in a ceremonial staff, suggest the importance of ceremony at the site.
Researchers believe the wide range of dates for the burial of the items hints at repeated use of the village to host lavish gatherings.
A unique collection of Iron Age metal artefacts has shed new light on the feasting rituals of prehistoric communities in the UK around 2,300 years ago. Experts uncovered a trove of ancient treasures, including this rare cooking cauldron
A team of scientists from the University of Leicester's Archaeological Services (ULAS) made the discovery, at a site called Glenfield Park, on the outskirts of Leicester.
Early settlement of the village took place from around the 5th and 4th century BC, and radiocarbon dating shows that, by the 4th or 3rd century BC, the settlement underwent striking changes in character.
Individual roundhouses became enclosed and settlers began deliberately burying metallic items in a ritualistic fashion.
The cauldrons and other finds at Glenfield Park are the result of a series of events that took place over a considerable length of time, resulting in multiple burials across the history of the settlement.
These repeated acts mark the site out as a potential ritual and ceremonial centre that played host to large feasts.
John Thomas, director of the excavation and Project Officer for ULAS, said: 'Glenfield Park is an exceptional archaeological site, with a fantastic array of finds that highlight this as one of the more important discoveries of recent years.
'It is the metalwork assemblage that really sets this settlement apart.
'The quantity and quality of the finds far outshines most of the other contemporary assemblages from the area, and its composition is almost unparalleled.
Most of the cauldrons appear to have been deliberately laid in a large circular enclosure ditch that surrounded a building. They are made from several separate parts, comprising iron rims (pictured) and upper bands, hemispherical copper alloy bowls and two iron ring handles
'The cauldron assemblage in particular makes this a nationally important discovery.
'They represent the most northerly discovery of such objects on mainland Britain and the only find of this type of cauldron in the East Midlands.'
Most of the cauldrons appear to have been deliberately laid in a large circular enclosure ditch that surrounded a building.
CT scans (pictured) revealed exceptionally rare evidence for decoration from the period, further highlighting the significance of the site
The cauldrons appear to have been a variety of sizes, with rims ranging between 14 inches and 22 inches in diameter. The total capacity of all of the cauldrons is approximately 120 gallons
They had been placed in either upright or inverted positions, before the ditch was filled in, suggesting that they were buried to mark the cessation of activities associated with this part of the site.
Other cauldrons were found buried across the site, suggesting that significant events were being marked over a long period of time as the settlement developed.
The cauldrons are made from several separate parts, comprising iron rims and upper bands, hemispherical copper alloy bowls and two iron ring handles attached to the upper band.
They appear to have been a variety of sizes, with rims ranging between 14 inches and 22 inches in diameter.
The total capacity of all of the cauldrons is approximately 120 gallons.
This illustrates their potential to provide for large groups of people that may have gathered at the settlement from the wider Iron Age community of the area.
Dr Thomas added: 'Due to their large capacity it is thought that Iron Age cauldrons were reserved for special occasions and would have been important social objects, forming the centrepiece of major feasts, perhaps in association with large gatherings and events.
'The importance of cauldrons as symbolic objects is reflected in their frequent appearance in early medieval Irish and Welsh literature, which has been drawn upon in studies of Iron Age society.
'They are rarely found in large numbers and, with the exception of a discovery in Chiseldon, where 17 cauldrons were found in a pit, there have been few excavated examples in recent years.'
The cauldrons are extremely fragile and were lifted from site in soil blocks for later analysis.
The cauldrons and other finds at Glenfield Park are the result of a series of events that took place over a considerable length of time, resulting in multiple burials across the history of the settlement. This image shows an iron spearhead just after it was discovered
The repeated burial acts mark the site out as a potential ritual and ceremonial centre that played host to large feasts. This image shows a copper alloy horn-cap, which may have been part of a ceremonial staff
Experts say the quantity and quality of the finds far outshines most of the other sites dating from the time in the area. This images shows a complex iron brooch
The finds also represent the most northerly discovery of the type of objects uncovered on mainland Britain and the only find of this type of cauldron in the East Midlands. This image shows a copper alloy ring-headed dress pin
They were initially investigated at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre in Middlesex, a leading medical imaging centre specialising in cancer which had CT-scanning equipment large enough to accommodate the soil blocks.
The scans provided useful information in terms of the cauldron orientation, approximate dimensions and profiles, as well as tantalising glimpses of manufacturing methods.
Most excitingly, the scans also revealed exceptionally rare evidence for decoration from the period, further highlighting the significance of the site.
One example is on a complete cauldron, which has raised stem and leaf motifs on the vessels iron band, close to the handle locations, which are similar to the so-called 'Vegetal Style' of Celtic art, generally dated to the 4th century BC.
The cauldrons are extremely fragile and were lifted from site in soil blocks for later analysis at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre in Middlesex
This image shows another CT scan taken at the leading medical imaging centre, which specialises in cancer and had CT-scanning equipment large enough to accommodate the soil blocks containing the cauldrons
Further detail from the cauldrons will only be possible from excavation and conservation, which is being undertaken by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA). This image shows a circular repair patch on the base of a cauldron revealed during conservation by MOLA
Another example of decoration has been identified on a small copper alloy bowl fragment, which has a domed rivet or raised boss decoration, suggesting that some of the bowls carried decoration too.
Further detail from the cauldrons will only be possible from excavation and conservation, which is being undertaken by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA).
Liz Barham, Senior Conservator at MOLA said: 'Already we have been able to uncover glimpses of the detailed histories of these cauldrons through CT scanning, including evidence of their manufacture and repair, and have identified sooty residues still clinging to the base of one of the cauldrons from the last time it was suspended over a fire.
'During the upcoming conservation we hope to discover much more about the entire assemblage.
'If we're lucky, we may even find food residues from the last time they were used , over 2,000 years ago.'
A team of scientists from the University of Leicester's Archaeological Services made the discovery on the outskirts of Leicester
The Iron Age site was found at a location called Glenfield Park, during excavation works for a warehouse development project
FEASTING RITUALS
Cauldrons are an iconic, if poorly understood class of artefact, according to the British Museum.
They are substantial vessels capable of containing large quantities of food or liquid and it is probable that they were not used for everyday purposes.
Instead, they were likely used for boiling meat or heating alcoholic drinks, such as beer or mead, in communal feasting ceremonies.
In the Iron Age, feasts were extremely important social events, used to celebrate religious festivals, mark rites of passage or even just to show off.
Communal drinking and feasting, particularly the regulated distribution of alcoholic beverages, were central to establishing and maintaining social relationships.
Sharing food and drink simultaneously communicated messages of membership and exclusion and served to rank individuals in relation to one another.
The cauldrons found had been placed in either upright or inverted positions, before the ditch was filled in, suggesting that they were buried to mark the cessation of activities associated with this part of the site.
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook