Archaeologists have unearthed a stunning 4,000-year-old burial chamber – on Prince William’s land.
Experts discovered the Bronze Age stone box known as a cist at Cut Hill in Dartmoor, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.
The private estate was established by Edward III in 1337 with The Prince of Wales the 25th Duke in the estate’s history.
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Radiocarbon dating indicates the chamber was used to bury the dead in prehistoric times and is about 3,900 years old.
Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), which led the project, said the discovery was prompted by reports of a feature being visible in the peat.
The authority said the find has parallels to the cist unearthed at Dartmoor’s Whitehorse Hill in 2011, which uncovered items including cremated human bone, a woven bag and amber beads as reported by Need To Know.
“We were all pretty speechless when we lifted the capstone and looked inside,” said excavation director and archaeologist, Dr Lee Bray.
“Not only is the cist bigger than we expected but it contained multiple pieces of wood that appear to have been deliberately shaped and cut.
“This prompts more questions – could the wood have been an object that was dismantled and deliberately placed inside the grave?
“If so, what was it and who did it belong to?”
Dr Bray said there was every chance the chamber could contain further objects and artefacts once the team explores further.
He added: “It’s a stunning discovery with the potential to be every bit as fascinating as the finds at Whitehorse Hill.”
The Duchy of Cornwall Land Steward, Tom Stratton, said: “The Duchy is delighted to support this project.
“The risk caused to the cost by natural erosion made its removal the most appropriate means of safeguarding the historical artefacts within it.
“We hope further analysis will add to the understanding that we have of life in this area so many years ago.”
DNPA said the cist will now undergo further excavation.
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