• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Intact Bronze Age urn found during excavation near Ely, Cambridgeshire

by Dario Radley
September 20, 2023

Archaeological experts from Britannia Archaeology have uncovered a treasure trove of history during a year-long excavation near Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK. Initially, this excavation was expected to be a short-term project but instead revealed evidence of human occupation spanning thousands of years.

Intact Bronze Age urn found during excavation near Ely, Cambridgeshire
A 35cm-high late Neolithic or early Bronze Age urn unearthed at the site. Credit: Britannia Archaeology

One of the most extraordinary finds at the site is an almost entirely intact 35cm-high late Neolithic or early Bronze Age urn, dating back approximately 4,000 years.

“Normally we find fragments of pots which are a bit smashed and broken. We don’t usually get a whole vessel that’s 95% complete and still standing,” Project officer Alice Schute told the BBC.

The excavation, located on land slated for housing development by Orbit Homes, began in October and has far surpassed expectations. Not only did archaeologists uncover this pristine Bronze Age urn, but they also revealed a previously unknown Saxon village, complete with a “substantial hall.” This Saxon settlement is believed to be part of a much larger community.

What sets this village apart are its sunken feature buildings, similar to those found at West Stow in Suffolk. These unique structures, which are rarely encountered, are built into the ground rather than above it. Some of these sunken buildings were found to be buried up to 80cm (31in) underground..

RelatedStories

4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

May 29, 2025
4,000-year-old cemeteries and rock art reveal forgotten ritual landscape of Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula

4,000-year-old cemeteries and rock art reveal forgotten ritual landscape of Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula

May 14, 2025

Furthermore, the excavation uncovered evidence of industrial use, such as loom weights, spindle whorls, needles, and minuscule beads.

“You think, ‘somebody last touched this thousands of years ago,’ yet some of these artifacts look like they could have been created yesterday,” Schute marveled.

Importantly, the findings indicate continuous human presence at the site, from the Bronze Age through the Roman period, followed by abandonment until the construction of a village in the 4th or 5th century CE.

Beyond the immediate archaeological importance, the excavation has broader implications. As Martin Brook, Britannia Archaeology director, notes, “The site’s important to local history, but it has a much wider significance – nobody knew it was here.” The unexpected discoveries have turned a spotlight on a previously overlooked historical treasure.

The project has garnered attention from both the local community and officials. Local residents had the opportunity to view the historical artifacts, some dating back over 4,000 years. The artifacts included not only those from the Bronze Age but also items from the Iron Age.

Ray Winney, Regional Managing Director at Orbit Homes, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, “The number of finds at Chewells Lane has been truly extraordinary. It’s been an incredible experience for the whole team to watch the archaeologists undertake excavation of the site and see the number of artefacts which have been uncovered, many in an unprecedented condition.”

Lucy Frazer, MP for South East Cambridgeshire, visited the site, echoing the sentiment of many: “It is an extraordinary feat to discover archaeological evidence here in East Cambridgeshire that dates back as far back as the Bronze Age, approximately 4000 years ago.” She emphasized the importance of preserving these artifacts to honor the region’s rich history.

The archaeological investigations, carried out by Britannia Archaeology Ltd., began in October 2022 and are expected to conclude in late Autumn 2023. The artifacts unearthed during this project will undergo further analysis and preservation before being deposited with a suitable archive or museum.

(This article is based on reports from BBC News and Orbit Homes.)


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago
Archaeology

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 2025
Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning
Anthropology

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025
18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist
Archaeology

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025
Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite
Archaeology

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025
43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world's oldest
Archaeology

43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world’s oldest

May 30, 2025
4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age
Archaeology

4,500-year-old clay baby rattles in Syria reveal mass production and parenting in the Bronze Age

May 29, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

May 27, 2025
Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

December 15, 2024
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 2025
Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025
18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025
Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025
43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world's oldest

43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprint discovered on stone is the world’s oldest

May 30, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.