The Cauldrons
The
Chiseldon Cauldrons were discovered in November 2004 in a field to the south
west of the village. A metal detectorist had discovered the badly-corroded
fragments of a bronze bucket and, on removing them from the ground, found he
then had a much stronger signal beneath. A small hole was dug and about 25cm
down an iron ring approximately 10cm in diameter attached to a
curved
surface was revealed. The site was closed down pending a decision on further
action.
Initially, the find was believed to be either of medieval or later date, but material analysis of the bronze fragments showed that they were of Iron Age date. This caused considerable interest, and Wessex Archaeology, together with a conservator from the British Museum, carried out a dig in June 2005.
Excavations
revealed a 2 metre diameter pit dug into the chalk into which twelve bronze and
iron cauldrons construction had been carefully placed. Ox skulls had been
placed above and below the deposit.
The cauldrons were excavated in blocks and stabilised before lifting and removed to the British Museum. They are now being cleaned and conserved under laboratory condition and the first cauldron has gone on display in the Iron Age Gallery of the British Museum.
Clic
k here for more details and a video of the British Museum's conservation
of the first cauldron.