Thetford dig unearths Iron Age war trumpet and boar standard

admin November 21, 2023

Thetford dig unearths Iron Age war trumpet and boar standard

Science
January 7, 2026
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The discovery of a carnyx (above) and a boar’s head flag standard in the same hoard has been described as “a discovery of a lifetime” by archaeologists

BBC/Rare TV The head of an Iron Age carnyx emerging out of a block of sandy soil. It is lying on its side and half buried. It has the head of an animal, with a gaping mouth and crest. — The discovery of a carnyx (above) and a boar’s head flag standard in the same hoard has been described as “a discovery of a lifetime” by archaeologists

Archaeologists have been stunned to discover two of the rarest Iron Age objects in the same excavation.

The team from Pre-Construct Archaeology was working on a building site a few miles from Thetford, Norfolk, when they came across the hoard last year.

At its heart was the most complete battle trumpet, or carnyx, ever found in Europe – and the first-ever boar’s head flag standard to be found in Britain.

Senior project officer Gary Trimble told BBC Two’s Digging for Britain, carnyces “are extraordinarily rare… a boar standard, that’s even rarer”.

The carnyx has “a wonderful little eye, which is a remarkable survivor and you can’t help but be impressed and charmed by it”, said conservator Jonathan Carr

Norfolk Museums Service The head of an Iron Age carnyx resting on its side on a white pillow. The instrument is in the shape of an animal with a long neck, with a crest along its neck, pierced with a pattern, with a long nose and its mouth gaping open. A black gloved hand can just be seen at the bottom holding a very fine brush, while a much broader brush brushes the snout of the animal. — The carnyx has “a wonderful little eye, which is a remarkable survivor and you can’t help but be impressed and charmed by it”, said conservator Jonathan Carr

“We have our fair share of hoards in Norfolk, but this is so, so different – it is really, really special,” he added.

Dig leader Peter Crawley said he had a gut feeling about the site before the excavation began.

“It felt like one of those special sites that you do get every so often,” he said.

Musician Letty Stott plays a replica of a carnyx to Fraser Hunter, presenter Alice Roberts and Gary Trimble during filming for Digging for Britain

BBC/Rare TV A scene in a field showing a group of people during the filming of Digging for Britain. A woman wearing a jumper and jeans is on the left, holding a brass coloured carnyx with a gaping mouth in her right hand. In the middle are straw bales and sitting on them is a man in a paid shirt and blue jeans, a woman in black jacket and black jeans and a man in plaid shit and blue jeans. They are all laughing. — Musician Letty Stott plays a replica of a carnyx to Fraser Hunter, presenter Alice Roberts and Gary Trimble during filming for Digging for Britain

A war trumpet was used by Celtic tribes across Europe to intimidate their enemies and to inspire and direct warriors during battle.

They included the Iceni tribe of East Anglia, which was led by queen Boudica in her failed uprising against the Romans in AD60 to 61.

Carnyces fascinated the Romans, who frequently depicted them as war trophies.

Carr said he was aware of the risks as he painstakingly removed the brittle finds from their block of soil

Norfolk Museums Service Jonathan Carr in a lab sitting at a table and looking through a magnifying glass on an arm as he brushed soil out of a bag holding a block of soil and Iron Age hoard items. — Carr said he was aware of the risks as he painstakingly removed the brittle finds from their block of soil

Conservator Jonathan Carr said the Thetford find was made “from extremely thin sheets of metal which have become extremely brittle after 2,000 years in the ground”.

As well as being one of only three carnyces found in Britain, it was “the most complete carnyx ever found, with the pipe, mouthpiece and bell all uniquely intact”, he added.

Dr Fraser Hunter, Iron Age and Roman curator at National Museums Scotland, said: “I’ve looked at carnyces from around Europe, and the full research and conservation of these incredibly fragile remains will reshape our view of sound and music in the Iron Age.”

The boar’s head standard was also created from thin sheets of metal and is an even rarer find than the musical instrument

Norfolk Museums Service A boar's head standard on its side, with its nose facing to the right. Two black-clad hands can just be seen at the bottom holding a thicker brush on the left and a far finer bush in the right hand. — The boar’s head standard was also created from thin sheets of metal and is an even rarer find than the musical instrument

The boar’s head standard was made from sheet bronze. It would have been held aloft in battle like a flag and used as a rallying point for troops.

Hunter said: “They were very fierce animals to face in the hunt, so the symbolism of the boar is a lot about the strength of it – a very appropriate adversary in battle.”

The hoard, which dates to about 50BC and AD50, included five shield bosses and an iron object of unknown origin.

Following its discovery, it was carefully lifted out of the earth in a soil block and scanned to work out where the items were positioned, before conservation began.

The hoard included shield bosses, while the boar’s head can be seen on the right and the carnyx is behind

Norfolk Museums Service Hoard of Iron Age finds appearing from a block of sandy soil in a lab. Only the top layer can be seen, showing three shield bosses in the middle and on the right a boar's head, — The hoard included shield bosses, while the boar’s head can be seen on the right and the carnyx is behind

The find was reported to the coroner and an inquest will be held to determine if it is treasure. Its long-term future has yet to be decided.

Historic England is working with Pre-Construct Archaeology, Norfolk Museums Service and the National Museum of Scotland to coordinate the finds’ research and conservation.

Anatomist, author and broadcaster Prof Alice Roberts has presented Digging for Britain since it first began

BBC/Rare TV Prof Alice Roberts standing in front of the ruined castle keep. She has pink tinted hair and is wearing a red jacket. Her arms are folded and she is smiling broadly. — Anatomist, author and broadcaster Prof Alice Roberts has presented Digging for Britain since it first began

Dr Tim Pestell, a senior curator of archaeology for Norfolk Museums Service, said: “This find is a powerful reminder of Norfolk’s Iron Age past which, through the story of Boudica and the Iceni people, still retains its capacity to fascinate the British public.

“The Norfolk Carnyx Hoard will provide archaeologists with an unparalleled opportunity to investigate a number of rare objects and ultimately, to tell the story of how these came to be buried in the county 2,000 years ago.”

Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-CEOs of Historic England, said it was a “remarkable discovery”.

“We look forward to uncovering and sharing the story of the Norfolk community that owned and used these items,” the pair added.

The story of the discovery will be featured on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain on 14 January at 21:00 GMT, or on BBC iPlayer.

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