Archaeologists in France have uncovered the tomb of a Celtic prince from the Early Iron Age, also known as the Hallstatt era.
The team believes the prince lived 2,500 years ago, and his burial site is one of the largest ever found from the fifth century B.C.E. And the most incredible part is that it was found under a traffic roundabout.
Archaeologists from France's National Archaeological Research Institute (Inrap) have been working at the Troyes site since October. The tomb contained Greek and Etruscan artifacts, including a chariot, a cauldron decorated with Greek gods, and an amphora with images of Dionysus. The value of the corpse's burial items are what led the team to believe he was an aristocrat and likely a prince.
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"Even in the rich Greek tombs you don't find such objects," Dominique Garcia, the head of Inrap, told The Telegraph. "These objects were like diplomatic gifts."
In a statement, the researchers explained that Celtic communities would have acquired Greek and Etruscan items through trade with Mediterranean cultures. The archaeologists described the find as an "extraordinary" discovery, The International Business Times reports.
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