News

Archaeologists uncover rare Iron Age war trumpet and boar standard

According to the archaeologists involved in the excavation, these findings are extremely uncommon.

A groundbreaking excavation has unearthed two exceedingly rare Iron Age artifacts, leaving archaeologists in awe of the discovery.

The head of an Iron Age carnyx emerging out of a block of sandy soil. It is lying on its side and half buried. It has the head of an animal, with a gaping mouth and crest. — The discovery of a carnyx (above) and a boar's head flag standard in the same hoard has been described as "a discovery of a lifetime" by archaeologists

The excavation team from Pre-Construct Archaeology made the find at a building site near Thetford, Norfolk, during their work in the previous year.

The discovery included a remarkably well-preserved battle trumpet, known as a carnyx, which is the most complete example ever found in Europe, as well as a boar's head flag standard, the first of its kind to be discovered in Britain.

According to Gary Trimble, senior project officer, the carnyx is an exceptionally rare find, and the boar standard is even more unusual, making this discovery particularly significant.

Trimble emphasized that while Norfolk has had its share of notable discoveries, this find stands out as particularly unique and special.

The head of an Iron Age carnyx resting on its side on a white pillow. The instrument is in the shape of an animal with a long neck, with a crest along its neck, pierced with a pattern, with a long nose and its mouth gaping open. A black gloved hand can just be seen at the bottom holding a very fine brush, while a much broader brush brushes the snout of the animal. — The carnyx has "a wonderful little eye, which is a remarkable survivor and you can't help but be impressed and charmed by it", said conservator Jonathan Carr

Prior to the excavation, dig leader Peter Crawley had a hunch that the site might yield something extraordinary.

Crawley described the site as one of those rare locations that occasionally produce exceptional discoveries, giving him an instinctive feeling about its potential.

The war trumpet, or carnyx, was a key instrument used by Celtic tribes across Europe to intimidate their enemies and guide their warriors during battles.

A scene in a field showing a group of people during the filming of Digging for Britain. A woman wearing a jumper and jeans is on the left, holding a brass coloured carnyx with a gaping mouth in her right hand. In the middle are straw bales and sitting on them is a man in a paid shirt and blue jeans, a woman in black jacket and black jeans and a man in plaid shit and blue jeans. They are all laughing. — Musician Letty Stott plays a replica of a carnyx to Fraser Hunter, presenter Alice Roberts and Gary Trimble during filming for Digging for Britain

The Iceni tribe, led by Queen Boudica, who launched a rebellion against the Romans in AD60-61, was among the Celtic tribes that utilized such instruments.

The Romans were fascinated by carnyces, often depicting them as symbols of war in their art and literature.

Conservator Jonathan Carr noted that the Thetford discovery was crafted from extremely thin metal sheets that had become brittle over the course of 2,000 years underground.

Jonathan Carr in a lab sitting at a table and looking through a magnifying glass on an arm as he brushed soil out of a bag holding a block of soil and Iron Age hoard items. — Carr said he was aware of the risks as he painstakingly removed the brittle finds from their block of soil

This carnyx is not only one of only three found in Britain but also the most complete example, with its pipe, mouthpiece, and bell all intact, according to Carr.

Dr. Fraser Hunter, curator of Iron Age and Roman artifacts at National Museums Scotland, stated that a thorough examination and conservation of these fragile remains will significantly enhance our understanding of sound and music in the Iron Age.

The boar's head standard, made from sheet bronze, would have been used as a rallying point for troops and held aloft during battles.

A boar's head standard on its side, with its nose facing to the right. Two black-clad hands can just be seen at the bottom holding a thicker brush on the left and a far finer bush in the right hand. — The boar's head standard was also created from thin sheets of metal and is an even rarer find than the musical instrument

Hunter explained that the boar symbolized strength, given its ferocity in the wild, making it an apt emblem for battle.

The hoard, which dates back to around 50BC-AD50, includes five shield bosses and an iron object of unknown origin, in addition to the carnyx and boar standard.

After its discovery, the hoard was carefully extracted from the earth in a block of soil and scanned to determine the positioning of the artifacts before conservation efforts began.

The find has been reported to the coroner, and an inquest will be held to determine whether it qualifies as treasure, with its long-term fate still to be decided.

Hoard of Iron Age finds appearing from a block of sandy soil in a lab. Only the top layer can be seen, showing three shield bosses in the middle and on the right a boar's head, — The hoard included shield bosses, while the boar's head can be seen on the right and the carnyx is behind

Historic England is collaborating with Pre-Construct Archaeology, Norfolk Museums Service, and the National Museum of Scotland to oversee the research and conservation of the finds.

Dr. Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at Norfolk Museums Service, noted that this discovery serves as a powerful reminder of Norfolk's Iron Age heritage, which continues to captivate the public through the story of Boudica and the Iceni people.

Prof Alice Roberts standing in front of the ruined castle keep. She has pink tinted hair and is wearing a red jacket. Her arms are folded and she is smiling broadly. — Anatomist, author and broadcaster Prof Alice Roberts has presented Digging for Britain since it first began

The Norfolk Carnyx Hoard presents archaeologists with a unique opportunity to investigate these rare objects and ultimately shed light on the story of how they came to be buried in the county 2,000 years ago.

Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-CEOs of Historic England, described the discovery as "remarkable" and expressed their enthusiasm for uncovering and sharing the story of the community that once owned and used these artifacts.

The co-CEOs of Historic England look forward to exploring and sharing the story of the Norfolk community that owned and utilized these items.

The story of the discovery will be featured on BBC Two's Digging for Britain, airing on 14 January at 21:00 GMT, and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Up Next

US seizes oil tanker in Caribbean operation

Don't Miss

The Latest in Tech News

News

GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.

For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.

Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.

News

Family of Murder Victim Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Trial Scheduling

A 21-year-old woman, Chloe Mitchell, lost her life in June 2023, and a man is set to stand trial, facing a murder charge.

The family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman from Ballymena, is facing further uncertainty as they await the outcome of a trial for her alleged murderer, which may be impacted by an ongoing barristers' strike.

A close-up photo of Chloe Mitchell - a young woman with long, straight, fair hair - smiling at the camera. She is wearing black-framed sunglasses with blue lenses on her head, which are partially visible. — Chloe Mitchell's remains were found eight days after she went missing in 2023

Chloe Mitchell's life was cut short in June 2023, when she was killed in an incident that has left her family and community in shock.

Brandon John Rainey, the man accused of her murder, is scheduled to stand trial on February 23, but the proceedings may be delayed due to the industrial action by defence barristers.

Following a recent court hearing to review trial arrangements, Nadine Mitchell, Chloe's sister, expressed her family's distress and frustration, telling BBC News NI that they are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.

Nadine Mitchell stated that her family has been left with no choice but to wait once again for a resolution, having already endured a prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty.

The family's emotional turmoil is evident, with Nadine describing the experience as a prolonged period of distress, marked by sleepless nights and unbearable tension.

The Mitchell family is struggling to come to terms with their situation, which has left them feeling overwhelmed and distraught.

The current strike by defence barristers in Northern Ireland, which began last month, is a result of a long-standing dispute over legal aid fees, with barristers arguing that their fees have not kept pace with inflation.

The strike has brought almost all criminal trials in Northern Ireland to a standstill, with the exception of cases where the defendant does not require legal aid.

The Mitchell family has appealed for their case to be treated as an exception, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled.

Chloe Mitchell, who was 21 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in early June 2023, prompting an extensive search operation.

Her remains were discovered about a week later, following a series of searches in the Ballymena area.

Brandon John Rainey was subsequently arrested and charged with Chloe's murder, which is alleged to have taken place between June 2 and June 5, 2023.

Rainey also faces a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful burial of a deceased body.

The dispute between barristers and the Department of Justice centres on the level of legal aid fees, which barristers claim have not increased since 2005.

A close-up of Brandon Rainey, a man with short, fair hair and stubble, looking at the camera. He is sitting in a vehicle on a dark, wet night. — Brandon Rainey is accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell

Barristers argue that the fees have not kept pace with inflation, resulting in a significant decrease in their real-terms value over the past 20 years.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned that the low fees have created a crisis in the justice system, with many younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases due to the low rates of pay.

The CBA has described the strike as a "last resort" in their dispute with the Department of Justice, which has been ongoing for some time.

Despite an announced 16% increase in fees, which is set to take effect in mid-January, the strike has continued, with barristers arguing that the increase does not go far enough to address their concerns.

Chloe's father, George Mitchell, has previously appealed for an exception to be made in their case, allowing the trial to proceed despite the strike.

George Mitchell has argued that any delay to the trial would cause further trauma and distress for the families of victims.

He had invited Justice Minister Naomi Long to meet with him and his wife, Georgina, to discuss the matter further.

However, Minister Long has stated that it is not feasible to allow individual cases to proceed while the dispute over legal aid fees remains unresolved, citing ethical and practical concerns.

The minister has reiterated that the decision to grant exceptions lies with the CBA, which must weigh the competing demands of their members and the needs of the justice system.

News

Keanu Reeves’ John Wick Video Game Revealed at PlayStation Event

The iconic hitman has made previous appearances in games, however, the version developed by Saber will mark the first instance where the character is voiced by Reeves.

A video game adaptation of the John Wick franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, is in development, with Keanu Reeves set to lend his likeness and voice to the project.

An in game screenshot of a video game version of Keanu Reeves as the character John Wick. He is wearing a suit and looking at the camera.

The game, currently titled "Untitled John Wick Game", is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick film series.

A trailer for the game, expected to serve as a prequel to the film series, was unveiled during PlayStation's "State of Play" event on Thursday.

The event also featured announcements for remakes of several major game franchises, including the God of War trilogy, as well as a special 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman.

The John Wick film series, which has earned over $1 billion globally, follows the story of a retired assassin, played by Keanu Reeves, as he seeks vengeance in a world of high-stakes action.

Although the character of John Wick has appeared in games before, this will be the first time Keanu Reeves has provided his voice for the role.

Reeves has previous experience in the gaming industry, having played a key role in the hit game Cyberpunk 2077 as the character Johnny Silverhand.

According to Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, the development team is "honored" to be working with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves to bring the John Wick universe to life in a AAA game.

The game's story will be an original narrative designed for mature audiences, featuring a mix of familiar characters from the film series and new ones.

Jenefer Brown, president of global products at Lionsgate, the producer of the John Wick films, expressed the company's goal of capturing the "intense action" and "distinctive fight choreography" that define the franchise.

The reaction to the game's announcement has been largely positive among fans on social media.

However, some fans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on Saber Interactive's other projects, including the long-awaited remake of the classic Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic.

Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of The Game Business, believes that the John Wick game is a strong fit for Saber Interactive, given the studio's experience with action-oriented IPs and its ability to release multiple games across various genres.

Dring notes that Saber Interactive operates as a collective of studios working on multiple IPs, allowing it to release a diverse range of games annually.

During the same event, Sony announced that Santa Monica Studios is working on remakes of the first three God of War games, building on one of the platform's most successful franchises.

An in-game screenshot of Silent Hill Townfall. We see the back of a man who is looking at a sign that says "Welcome to St. Amelia". — Konami's trailer for Silent Hill Townfall revealed it is set in St Amelia, a "fictional island inspired by Scotland"

Although a release date for the God of War remakes was not provided, Sony did announce a surprise side-scrolling prequel game, Sons of Sparta, which is available now.

The event also offered a first look at Townfall, the latest installment in the Silent Hill series, set on the fictional island of St. Amelia, which draws inspiration from Scotland.

A 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman was also announced, featuring five versions of the 1995 game, along with a near-immediate release.

Loic Gounon, brand producer for the Rayman games, discussed the anniversary edition with the BBC, highlighting the inclusion of a new documentary that explores the making of the original game, as well as accessibility features designed to enhance the experience for modern players.

To stay up-to-date on the latest tech news and trends, sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter; international readers can subscribe via an alternative link.