Rare 2,000-year-old war trumpet found in Britain that may be related to Celtic Queen Boudica

Archaeologists have discovered a rare 2,000-year-old war trumpet in England that may have been used in Queen Boudica’s war against Rome. The war trumpets, also known as carnics, were part of metal artefacts discovered in west Norfolk last year ahead of house construction.

The treasure was announced on Wednesday (January 7) by Preconstruct Archeology, the company that led the initial excavation, and Historic England, the organization coordinating the research and conservation efforts.

Relics in the treasury include a nearly completed war trumpet with an animal head. A boar’s head military flag, or decorated pole identifying a group of soldiers. 5 shield bosses, or decorations that decorate the center of the shield. and other metal products. According to Pre-Construct Archaeology, “finds of this kind are extremely rare in the UK and across Europe”.

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Historic England representatives said battle trumpets were primarily used by Celtic tribes in Iron Age Europe, and were often taken by Roman soldiers as spoils of war. “This newly excavated example is one of only three known in the UK and one of the most complete yet discovered in Europe,” they said in a statement.

A carnicus was a bronze wind instrument similar to a trumpet, but it had a long, slender, vertical shape, and the tip resembled a wild boar with an open mouth. It was a common part of Celtic soldiers’ military equipment, along with chain mail, shields, and spears.

Experts at the National Museums of Scotland have created a replica of a carnicus that gives the impression of what a war trumpet would sound like when played by musician John Kenny.

Carnix’s Secret – YouTube

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Given that the metal hoard and the West Norfolk find are dated to the 1st century AD, it is likely that these items were used by the Celts who were trying to resist Roman invasion.

In 60 AD, Queen Boudica (also spelled Boudicca) of the powerful Aisni tribe, based in modern-day Norfolk, led a revolt against the Romans. However, Boudica and the Iceni were defeated, paving the way for Roman domination of Britain.

The vault was removed from the ground in single blocks so that its contents could be studied with X-ray imaging and CT scans before being carefully excavated in the laboratory. Research and conservation work is underway, and the hoard’s discovery will feature on an upcoming episode of BBC Two’s Digging for Britain.

Roman Britain Quiz: What do you know about the Empire’s conquest of the British Isles?