Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of an Iron Age Celtic Prince in France's Champagne region.
The tomb contains Greek and possibly Etruscan artifacts from the 5th Century B.C. and was found in a business zone on the outskirts of Lavau, France, according to the BBC. A team of archaeologists from the National Archaeological Research Institute (Inrap) began excavating the site in October and have dated it to the end of the First Iron Age.
In the tomb, they found a bronze wine cauldron, believed to have been made by Etruscan craftsmen in what today is Italy, the Daily Mail reported. The cauldron has four circular handles decorated with bronze heads that depict the Greek god Acheloos, the river deity. Acheloos is shown with horns, a beard, the ears of a bull and a triple mustache. In addition, the cauldron has eight lioness heads on the edge.
Archaeologists also discovered an iron wheel from a chariot buried with the prince and a perforated silver spoon that appeared to filter wine. They believe that these findings could shed light on Iron Age European trade.
The burial mound has a 150-square-foot burial chamber and is 130 feet across, BBC reported. Inrap President Dominique Garcia said the tomb probably holds a local Celtic Prince.
The rise of the Etruscan and Greek city states such as Marseille in southern France characterized the 5th and 6th Century. Celts and Mediterranean merchants traded slaves, metals and other goods.
