Digging In The Bronze Age Burial "may Be One Of The Most Important Archaeological Discoveries Of The Century"

The early Bronze Age burial of cremated bones of the chest and contains the material for 4000 years has been removed from Dartmoor.

The collection of objects can be one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the past 100 years, experts say.

Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), said stone in the chest or "cysts" - which has been used to bury the ashes - was found in White Horse Hill in Devon, one of the highest peaks of Dartmoor.

In addition to human remains, other objects were found such as leather, woven basket or bag, and beads of amber preserved peat.

Jane Marchand, Archaeologist of SANS and Whitehorse Hill Project Manager, said: "This is a strange and fascinating properties of the early Bronze Age Dartmoor Assembly might well have seemed when he was buried, including personal people living in the wilderness about 4000 years. "

Cysts are common in the south-west of England and other parts of the famous Dartmoor 200 alone.

But they are rarely found with their original content.

Experts said one was found in Whitehorse Hill has been better preserved, because it is the only known example in the mound of peat.

Cist was discovered more than ten years ago, when what appeared to be the end of the stone fell out of the peat mound had to hide it.

Since then, the peat has been slowly eroded by the sides and top.

After several attempts to protect the ISTC - a planned monument - the decision was taken by SANS and English Heritage of the excavation to recover all the surviving archaeological and environmental information before it is destroyed.

The archaeology excavation, which took place in August, was the first excavation of the cist Dartmoor nearly 100 years, and experts in the historic Cornish team of environmental projects, assisted by English Heritage and the experts from the University of Plymouth.

They found that the remains cremated and burned textile was placed in an animal skin or fur on top of a very fine leather and textile being placed on a carpet made of plant material.

At one end of the fur / hide was a bag or basket woven fine, with thin seams still visible.

The content of these well-preserved shale disc beads, amber beads and spherical circular textile strip.

The entire deposit, including the stone base of granite rock rose, wrapped and taken to the laboratory of Wiltshire Conservation Service, where the "micro-search is conducted," revealing a wealth of information that is not used to survive in most of the burials in drier soils.

A more detailed examination is underway, including pollen analysis to determine the climate and vegetation around that time.

The National Park Authority said it plans to rebuild the tank and reinsert it to where it was found.

For more interesting topics related to archaeology, visit archaeology excavations.