Archaeologists discover stunning ancient battle trumpet in region tied to legendary queen

Archaeologists recently unearthed a stunning relic from the early days of ancient Britain: a Celtic battle trumpet, possibly tied to the tribe of the legendary Queen Boudica.In January, Historic England announced that a variety of Iron Age objects were found during a routine archaeological excavation.The star of the cache was a near-complete Iron Age battle trumpet, or carnyx — used to blare eerie sounds in battle and rally troops against the enemy.The trumpet was found by archaeologists from Pre-Construct Archaeology in West Norfolk in the eastern part of England.“These animal-headed bronze instruments were used by Celtic tribes across Europe to inspire their warriors in battle and fascinated the Romans, who frequently depicted them as war trophies,” Historic England’s statement read. “This newly excavated example is one of only three known from Britain and is one of the most complete found in Europe.”Norfolk was the heartland of the ancient Iceni tribe, a Celtic people once led by Boudica. In the first century AD, Boudica led a failed uprising against the Romans — and has endured as a symbol of Britannia since.Though it’s impossible to tie the trumpet directly to Boudica, the artifact comes from the same Iron Age landscape associated with the Iceni.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

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Never miss a story.Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at Norfolk Museums Service, called the find “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.”He added, “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 c...