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Kirkburn Burial

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The Kirkburn Burial is an Iron Age warrior burial dating from 250BC-160BC, discovered at Kirkburn, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The burial was uncovered in an archaeological dig in 1987.

Contents

The grave contained the skeleton of a man in his late 20s to early 30s. In the grave with the skeleton was an ornate iron sword, described by the British Museum as "probably the finest Iron Age sword in Europe". The sword itself was around 69 centimeters long. The scabbard was constructed in two sections, a front plate of decorated copper alloy, and a rear plate of iron. The iron pommel of the sword was decorated with fine red glass beads, and the two handle sections, pommel and handle guard were attached with rivets. The handle guard was made of horn, and the handle itself is an iron tube decorated with glass enameling.

Also found 11 meters away was a chariot burial containing a mail shirt, a rare find in Iron Age Britain. The mail shirt was of butted construction, with two mail shoulder flaps attached to a bronze central clasp.

References

Kirkburn Burial Wikipedia


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