A horse bridle-bit from c60AD found at RAF Valley, Anglesey. Photo: Harvey Mills/UK Govt
Parts of a 2000-year-old Celtic chariot discovered during an excavation at a RAF airfield in Wales last year have now been declared to be treasure.
The chariot parts were discovered underneath the airfield at RAF Valley, Anglesey, during a dig by military personnel and veterans.
The UK Government says the Senior Coroner for North Wales (West) declared the finds to be treasure and will be given to Museum Wales.
The government says the archaeological excavations in April 2024 were led by a team from Operation Nightingale, a military archaeological program to rehabilitate sick and injured soldiers and veterans.
UK Minister for Veterans and People Alistair Carns congratulated those who made the discovery.
“Through their hard work, we are uncovering and preserving our history for future generations,” he says.
The finds are believed to form part of the Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard, first uncovered in the 1940s amid work to extend the airfield at RAF Valley for US bombers, a government statement says.
The Iron Age hoard comprised more than 150 bronze and iron objects that had been deposited between 300BC and 100AD in a lake.
Among the new finds was a terret ring (used to guide the reins of a Celtic chariot) with a red decorative inlay.
The ring, found by retired RAF Squadron Leader David Ulke, is one of just three with this particular decoration to be found in Wales.
A horse bridle-bit thought to date to c60AD was found by serving RAF Flight Sergeant Graham Moore and would have been worn by horses pulling chariots.
Senior Defence archaeologist Richard Osgood says the new find is “extremely exciting” given the national importance of the Llyn Cerrig Bach hoar.
“These new discoveries confirmed the suspicions of earlier archaeologists that there was more to be found from this particular hoard,” he says.
REACTIONS
Sqn Ldr (Ret’d) Ulke says they had been briefed on what they could expect to find.
“When I uncovered the piece, I was pretty sure it was an Iron Age terret ring,” he says.
“To say I was the over the moon is probably an understatement! I’ve been involved in archaeology for many years and this was by far the most significant recovery I have ever made.”
Flt Sgt Moore says their search for the lost hoard was hard work over a large area.
“It wasn’t until the final day – with just 10 minutes to go – that I discovered the horse bridle-bit,” he says.
“At first the team thought I was joking but quickly realised I’d found something special. Words could not explain how I felt in that moment, but it was a wonderful experience.
The Senior Curator of Prehistory at Museum Wales, Adam Gwilt says the well-preserved condition of the finds was “amazing”.
“To think that these 2000-year-old artefacts have remained so complete and well-preserved within a shallow peat deposit, previously moved and dragged onto the airfield over 80 years ago from a nearby ancient lake!”
