US EditionThetford Dig Unearths Iron Age War Trumpet and Boar Standard
The hoard includes the most complete European carnyx and Britain's first boar's head standard, offering new insights into Iron Age culture from around 50 BC to AD 50.
- Last year, a Pre-Construct Archaeology team working a few miles from Thetford uncovered an Iron Age hoard including a near-complete carnyx and sheet-bronze boar's-head standard.
- Historic England said the carnyx was recovered during a routine dig on private land in west Norfolk, and the hoard dates about 50BC–AD50, around 2,000 years ago.
- One of only three carnyces in Britain, the instrument is among the most complete in Europe and was lifted as a soil block, scanned, then stabilized by the Norfolk Museums Service conservation team.
- The find has been reported to the coroner and an inquest will decide if it qualifies as treasure, with a coroner's ruling expected in early 2026 and long-term storage and museum allocation undecided.
- Historic England and research and conservation partners will coordinate study with National Museums Scotland, offering unparalleled chances to explore the hoard linked to the Iceni tribe and Boudica.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Ancient Celtic War Trumpet that Terrified Romans Discovered in Britain
Carnyx, or war trumpet from the Tintignac group. Credit: Claude Valette / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Celtic war trumpet, one of the most complete ever found in Europe, during a dig near Thetford in Norfolk, England. The rare Iron Age artifact, known as a carnyx, was used by Celtic tribes to rally warriors and intimidate enemies in battle. Its discovery alongside a bronze boar’s head battle standard …
Two unique finds from the Iron Age have been found during an excavation in Britain. They are a type of war trumpet and a bronze banner in the shape of a boar's head.
HeritageDaily - Archaeology News
The ArchaeologistNear-complete bronze carnyx among Iron Age hoard discovery
A remarkable hoard of Iron Age metalwork dating back approximately 2,000 years has been uncovered in West Norfolk, shedding new light on the ceremonial and martial traditions of Britain’s Celtic communities. The discovery was made during a routine archaeological excavation conducted by Pre-Construct Archaeology, as part of the standard planning process preceding residential development. What initially appeared to be a dense block of soil soon re…
An almost perfectly preserved Iron Age war trumpet, about 2,000 years old, has been discovered in England. Archaeologists found the so-called carnix during routine research on private land in Norfolk, in the east of England, where the construction of residential buildings is planned, writes CNN.
Rare Iron Age battle horn discovered on excavation site for UK homes
An extraordinary collection of Iron Age objects has been unearthed in West Norfolk. The hoard of metal objects was found during a routine archaeological excavation by Pre-Construct Archaeology as part of the standard planning process for residential properties.
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