Bizarre find made at Iron Age burial site

THE body of young man buried with spears sticking out of his body ‘like a hedgehog’ is one of the more bizarre findings of a recently discovered Iron Age burial site in Yorkshire, England.

The Pocklington site is being hailed as one of the largest and most significant Iron Age findings.

The speared burial figure was found among 75 square barrows which contained skeletons dating back as far as 800 BC to 00 AD. At this plot, archaeologists found a young man in his late teens or early 20s, who had been laid to rest with his sword at his side.

But before his grave was covered he had half-a-dozen spears pressed ritualistically into him.

MAP Archaeological Practice managing director Paula Ware, who revealed the site, described how this would have produced a mound with the spear shafts protruding like “the spikes of a hedgehog” visible for years afterwards.

Other findings included one woman who had died in childbirth and a child who was buried with a bangle on each limb.

Some people had a variety of grave goods, including brooches, bangles, pendants, glass beads, pots and prehistoric weapons.

Ware said: “We are hoping these findings shed light on the ritual of Iron Age burial – and as we can assume from the shield and sword burials, these were significant members of society, so our understanding of culture and key figures of the time could be really enhanced.

“On the whole this is a hugely important discovery. We will understand much more once the full analytical process has been completed – but as with any significant finding, this will take time to process,” Ware said.

The findings reveal a mixture of men, women and children from the Arras Culture who lived within the local area more than 2 500 years ago.

The site was discovered by one of Yorkshire’s largest house builders, David Wilson homes, who will resume a new development now that the archaeology is finished. – The Telegraph