Dartmoor (G-B) :tomb treasure horde uncovered by archaeologists
Dartmoor tomb treasure horde uncovered by archaeologists
Sarah Griffiths
What the well-dressed English princess was wearing in 2000 BC: 4,000-year-old grave with perfectly preserved furs and jewels of woman who obviously liked the country casual look
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Hoard of Bronze Age treasure unearthed in Dartmoor two years ago is thought to have belonged to a high status female aged under 25 years old
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Precious jewellery made of amber and tin, plus delicate fur and fabric was preserved in peat and demonstrates craftsmanship and trade links
It has been described as one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the last 100 years.
And now the hoard of Bronze Age treasure unearthed in a remote area of Dartmoor two years ago has come under the spotlight again as experts think it could have belonged to a prehistoric princess.
Intriguing finds including earrings, beads, a studded bracelet and a near perfectly preserved basket and animal pelt will be the subject of a one-off documentary, before going on show to the public later this year.
The basket (pictured) is around 4,000 years old and held a collection of ancient beads, wooden earrings and a flink flake, shedding light on a Bronze Age society capable of amazing craftsmanship and international trade
The objects, which were pulled from an ancient cremation burial chamber in south Devon, have fascinated scientists since they were discovered in 2011 and have allowed them one of the best glimpses into life in Bronze Age Southern England that they have ever had.
The basket held a collection of precious beads, wooden earrings and a flint flake, shedding light on an advanced society capable of amazing craftsmanship and international trade.
t is thought that the personal items, which were unearthed from peat in a burial chamber found high on Whitehorse Hill in Dartmoor, belonged to a Bronze Age Princess. Here, an actress wears modern recreations of the ancient items recovered
It is fashioned from two circular disks measuring 4.5 inches (12cm) in diameter to form a flat base and lid, which is joined by a tube made using a coiled basketry technique with cow hair stitching around the edge and was preserved in peat.
The wooden earrings inside, which measure up to an inch (2.5cm) in diameter, have side grooves and are made from spindle wood – a hard, fine grained tree that grows in Dartmoor which is traditionally used to make knitting needles.
Archaeologists think the yo-yo-shaped studs were worn in the ears or set into leather belts or other clothing.
The objects were pulled from a prehistoric cremation burial chamber (pictured) in Devon and have allowed scientists to get one of the best glimpses into life in Bronze Age Southern England
A carefully-prepared animal pelt (pictured) was folded around the cremated remains of the individual as well as what is thought to be a skilfully-made decorative sash or belt, composed of textile and leather with a fringe of outward pointing leather triangles made from thin calf skin
The wooden earrings (pictured) measure up to two-and-a-half centimetres in diameter and and are made from spindle wood - a hard, fine grained tree that grows in Dartmoor which is traditionally used to make knitting needles
