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A Late Iron Age Burial from Chilham Castle, near Canterbury, Kent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Keith Parfitt
Keith Parfitt
Affiliation:
Wyke House, The Street, East Langdon, nr Dover, Kent CT15 5JH
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Extract

During the spring of 1993 Mr Darren Nichols was searching land near Canterbury with his new metal detector when he made a most interesting discovery. At a shallow depth he unearthed a burial, containing a decorated bronze mirror, a bronze brooch, and the remains of a pot holding cremated bone. The mirror was subsequently identified as being of Iron Age date, bearing a characteristic engraved Celtic design on its reverse. Realising the importance of the find, Mr Nichols reported the discovery to local archaeologists who were able to visit the site and re-excavate the find-spot. These investigations produced a second brooch and further sherds from the very fragmented cinerary urn.

In July 1994 the metalwork from the burial was passed to Dr Ian Stead of the British Museum for detailed study and recording. A year later the finder sold the mirror and brooches at a Sotheby's auction (Sale LN5398, Lot 3) to a private collector, who has very kindly agreed to details of the objects being published here.

Résumé

Un enterrement isolé de l'âge du fer tardif a été découvert par un détecteur de métalux à Chilham Castle dans le Kent en 1993. Les dépouilles incinérées d'une seule personne, probablement d'une femme adulte de moins de 30 ans se trouvaient dans une urne en poterie du style “belge‟. L'inhumation était accompagnée par deux broches presque identiques du type Knotenfibeln de la Tène II et un miroir de bronze datant probablement de 70–50 av. J.-C Le miroir est et d'une décoration simple assez primitive.

Zusammenfassung

Ein einzelnes Begräbnis aus der Spätbronzezeit wurde von einem Metalldektoristen 1993 in Chilham, Kent entdeckt. In einem Töpfergefäß 'beligischen' Typs fand man die eingeäscherten Überreste eines einzelnen Erwachsenen, unter 30 Jahre alt, wahrscheinlich eine weibliche Person. Dem Begräbnis beigelegt waren noch zwei fast identisch aussehende Broschen aus Latene II Knotenfibeln und ein Spiegel aus Bronze. Das Datum geht vielleicht bis zu 70–50 v. Chr. zurück. Der Spiegel ist ziemlich einfach und primitiv verziert.

Résumen

Un enterramiento aislado del Hierro Tardio fue descubierto en 1993, por un individuo con un detector de metales, en Chilham Castle, Kent. Los restos incinerados de un único adulto, probablemente una mujer de menos de 30 años, se hallaban dentro de una jarra de cerámica de estilo belga. El enterramiento iba acompañado de al menos dos broches del tipo Knotenfibeln del La Téne II casi idénticos, y de un espejo de bronce, y probablemente data de los años 70-50 a.C. El espejo tiene decoración simple y bastante tosca.

Type
Shorter contributions
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 64 , January 1998 , pp. 343 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1998

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