LA TENE WARRIORS UNEARTHED IN FRANCE (PRE-CELTIC BRONZE AGE AND EARLY IRON AGE) -- RARE FIND!

A team of Inrap archaeologists recently uncovered an exceptionally preserved necropolis dating to the 4th - 3rd centuries BC in Buchères, north central France. The team uncovered fifteen spectacular funerary enclosures, quadrangular,circular and horseshoe in shape dating from both the pre-Celtic Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Two sets of tombs belong to the early European Iron-age, La Tène culture.

Of the 14 tombs excavated so far, archaeologists have unearthed five that contain warriors. These men are armed with a sheathed sword and spear and two of them have shields made of wood and leather (which has rotted away, leaving only the iron edge and central spine).

In the burials that contained women all wear necklaces and bronze bracelets showing clear gender separation in grave both sexes are buried with large chest brooches of iron or bronze, sometimes decorated with coral. Significantly, there are no children contained within these graves.

This exceptional funerary complex is a very rare find for the area and differs from the few others found in the region. For example, less than 1 km from the Buchères necropolis the 4th-3rd centuries BC dead were buried in underground silos. A little further north, in the Marne, the graves from this period did not contain dishes, storage vessels or meat to accompany the dead to the afterlife.

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/04/2013/la-tene-warriors-unearthed-in-france