Archeologists Discover Unique Grave of Celtic Warrior Buried With His Weapons, Say He May Have Belonged to Elite Community
Archeologists recently uncovered an ancient Celtic burial ground in the Czech Republic. Along with the burial ground, the site also had a Stone Age farming settlement, Newsweek reported. Researchers discovered the area while conducting rescue excavations in the Přerov District of the Olomouc Region. All in all, 33 cremation graves were located at the site.
The graves were unearthed by experts from the Olomouc Archaeological Center somewhere between mid-September and the end of November, Interesting Engineering reported. On examination, it was learned that the burial site dates back to the 3rd–2nd centuries B.C. The total measurement of the whole settlement was around 250 x 15 meters.
Experts were ecstatic after this discovery because so many Celtic graves had never been located in one place. "This is an exceptional find, as Celtic graves from other sites are usually skeletal and occur in lower numbers. Here we managed to uncover several dozen cremation graves, which is truly unique," lead archaeologist, Marek Kalábek stated. Researchers hoped that the graves and the materials found around them would give them a deeper look into the lifestyle of certain Stone Age civilizations.
Archeological excavations were not easy on the burial site because some parts had been damaged in the last century because of deep plowing. During digging, the experts found a grave they believed belonged to an elite warrior. Researchers asserted this claim because they uncovered an iron sword, spear, and belt in that grave. "An iron sword with a double-edged edge, used for fighting or defense. On the blade of the sword, we found traces of dents and battering", explained trailologist, Michael Kamarád.
The possible grave of the warrior was distinct from other burial spots found on the site. They were all modest by comparison further solidifying the status of the grave's inhabitant. Researchers stated that the other graves were sunken pits "with a circular or rectangular plan with poor equipment in the form of fragments of metal artifacts and ceramics." The equipment found beside the deceased in the burial spots was primarily made of ceramics, bronze, and iron.
The content of burial pits backed up the decades-old claims by experts that the cremation rituals followed by Celtic groups left only small fragments of skeletal remains. These traces were eventually placed in the grave. Researchers think that the processes employed by the group must involve burning bodies at temperatures around 600°C.
The early farming settlement unearthed from the site dates back to 5000 B.C. which falls in the Neolithic period or New Stone Age, Newsweek reported. Several artifacts related to the settlement were found in the area which experts hope to utilize in further examinations.
"In addition to numerous ceramics, we also discovered chipped flint tools, fragments of ground axes, and stone mills for crushing grain. The found artifacts help us better understand the everyday life of prehistoric society," Kalábek said.