The tomb sits on the outskirts of the small town of Lavau in France's Champagne region, archaeologists say

Mar 7, 2015 09:32 GMT  ·  By

This week, researchers with France's National Archaeological Research Institute announced the discovery of an ancient tomb not far from the small town of Lavau in the country's Champagne region.

The burial complex, a photo of which is included in the gallery below, is estimated to be about 2,500 years old. Archaeologists believe that it was built to honor a Celtic prince who lived sometime during the Iron Age.

Several artifacts have been recovered from the site

It is understood that archaeologists got to work excavating the 2,500-year-old burial complex quite a while ago, in last year's October. They have since established that the complex is essentially a mound that holds a burial chamber at its core.

The mound is estimated to measure about 130 feet (roughly 40 meters) across. The burial chamber located at its heart, on the other hand, is said to cover a surface of about 14 square meters (some 150 feet).

While exploring the site of this burial complex, archaeologists came across several artifacts, among which a fairly large and beautifully decorated cauldron that once served to hold wine. The cauldron's handles, pictured in the gallery, show the god Acheloos.

Like the cauldron itself, these representations of the god Acheloos are made of bronze, as are the eight lioness heads that sit all around the vessel's edge. Apart from the cauldron, archaeologists found a silver spoon and even a wheel belonging to an ancient chariot.

Seeing how many of the artifacts recovered from this newly unearthed archaeological site in France appear to be of Greek or Etruscan origin, scientists say that their discovery is proof of ancient trading activities in Europe.

“The artifacts are evidence of the exchanges that happened between the Mediterranean and the Celts,” Dominique Garcia commented on the discovery of the cauldron and the other objects in a statement, as cited by Live Science.

The prince enjoyed a rather pompous burial

The remains of the long-lost Celtic prince who was laid to rest in this corner of present-day France were discovered carefully arranged in a chariot. In turn, the chariot was found nestled inside the tomb located at the center of the burial complex.

The gorgeous bronze cauldron previously described, together with a knife and several other artifacts, was found close to the chariot and to the prince's skeleton inside the tomb. This indicates that this ancient aristocrat enjoyed a rather lavish burial.

Ancient burial complex unearthed in France (5 Images)

One of the handles of the bronze cauldron unearthed at this site
One of the lionesses adorning the cauldronThe vessel was found inside the tomb
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