Remains of Iron Age dog guarding ancient treasure unearthed
By ANIThursday, January 27, 2011
LONDON - Archaeologists have discovered the skeleton of a dog that has lain underground for 2,000 years, protecting a hoard of buried treasure.
The dog’s remains, about the same size as a retriever or Alsatian, were discovered at the site of one of Britain’s most important Iron Age excavations.
It is believed that an ancient tribe, the Corieltauvi, who lived in Britain before the Roman conquest, killed and then buried the dog between AD1 and AD50 so its spirit could protect the stockpile, reports the Daily Mail.
The skeleton was found in a pit on the Hallaton Treasure site in Leicestershire, which became Britain’s largest find of Iron Age coins when it was excavated in 2000.
The discovery illustrates the special relationship between humans and dogs that has existed for thousands of years.
The dog’s skeleton was painstakingly pieced together by the University of Leicester’s archaeological services, and will go on display at Harborough Museum for the first time this weekend.
It will be on show along with the treasure, made up of five thousand gold and silver coins as well as an ornately-decorated Roman parade helmet.
It will be positioned in a glass case at the entrance of the exhibit so it can continue to stand guard. (ANI)
