Pic: Littlehampton Gazette

The Littlehampton Gazette reports that a 2,000-year-old body has been uncovered in North Bersted. The rare find has excited archaeologists who have labelled the discovery as being of international importance. The Gazette page also has a unique video of the grave to view.

The skeleton is believed to have been a warrior who died around the time of the Roman invasion of England in AD43. He is likely to have been a prince or rich person of some status because of the quantity and quality of goods found with his remains.

Pic: National Geographic

Of particular interest were two highly decorated bronze latticework sheets. These were probably used to cover a shield. Dr Steve Ford, a director of Thames Valley Archaeological Services, said: There is no comparision for this metalwork that we know of. It might well be unique. It’s a very intricate piece of work for its time.

Professor Barry Cunliffe, the professor of European archaelogy at Oxford University, visited the site when he was in Chichester and said he knew of nothing like this metalwork.

The provisional date of the burial from the associated pottery indicates that it took place either at the end of the Late Iron Age or just into the Roman period, perhaps around 40-60AD.

Just three years ago, the Observer reported on the likelihood of the land north of North Bersted Street being occupied as far back as 4000BC during the Neolithic era.

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