Jan 18 2009
Cornish Celts keep their axes close
 Pic: BBC |
The BBC reports that a collection of rare Bronze Age axe heads discovered in Cornwall has gone on display in Truro after a campaign to keep the relics in the county.
The 3,000-year-old artifacts were found in perfect condition, buried in a clay pot at Mylor near Falmouth during a search using metal detectors. |
The collection would have gone to the British Museum but the Royal Cornwall Museum raised about £10,000 to keep it.
The find is believed to be the biggest of its type in Cornwall.
Conservator Laura Ratcliffe said:
All finds like this would normally go to the British Museum, but they were so special we wanted to keep them for Cornwall.
To get such a large collection in one place is pretty unusual.
It’s the biggest hoard to come out of Cornwall by a long shot.
The axe heads, all found in pristine condition, are thought to have been buried on purpose thousands of years ago.
Ms Ratcliffe said:
It could have been for security purposes or ritual, we just don’t know.
[Source]
