Toggle menu

Conservation and Museums Advisory Service excavate historically significant Early Bronze Age cist

Published 3 December 2024
CMAS excavation in 3-2

Following the discovery of an Early Bronze Age cist buried in peatland at Dartmoor National Park, Wiltshire Councils' Conservation and Museums Advisory Service (CMAS) has been commissioned to excavate the cist.

Excavations led by Dartmoor National Park Authority revealed the cist containing well-preserved wood and other material yet to be identified.

The discovery reinforces Dartmoor's reputation as a premier world site for archaeology and has the potential to help our understanding on how people once lived in one of Southern England's wildest uplands.

The cist is a stone-built box used to bury the dead in prehistoric times. They can contain human remains and other materials associated with the deceased. Site surveys and analysis, including radiocarbon dating of charcoal from inside the cist, gave a date of around 1,800BC - or 3,800 years old.

The discovery was made at Cut Hill, one of Dartmoor's highest and most isolated hills, following a three-day excavation in August. Material from inside the cist was then carefully transported to CMAS based at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre for micro-excavations. The discovery has parallels to the cist unearthed at Whitehorse Hill in 2011. The finds from this cist changed our understanding of Early Bronze Age life on Dartmoor.

CMAS specialises in the conservation and preservation of archaeological material and has been commissioned by Dartmoor National Park Authority to undertake micro-excavations in controlled laboratory conditions to uncover items within the cist and preserve them.

The micro-excavation is a slow process and takes place in 2cm stages. The damp peatland conditions in which the cist was found will be maintained throughout the excavation to prevent the structural integrity of any materials or items from being compromised.

Wood, textile and other specialists will be called in at short notice to examine the finds and assist with preservation.

Dartmoor National Park Authority Archaeologist and Excavation Director, Dr Lee Bray, said: "Dartmoor is one of the most important sites for Bronze Age archaeology in Europe, so we're really excited by the excavation of the Early Bronze Age cist at Cut Hill. The results of the micro-excavation have every chance of giving us unique insights into this very important period in Dartmoor's human past, and help people understand, enjoy and protect its rich and varied cultural heritage."

Heather Perry, Conservation and Museums Manager for Wiltshire Council's Conservation and Museums Advisory Service, said: "We're delighted to be working with Dartmoor National Park Authority to uncover the secrets contained within this Early Bronze Age cist.

"Our team are currently undertaking meticulous micro-excavations of the cist with the utmost care to preserve any items contained within. We're working closely with Dr Bray and other specialists to examine and preserve items uncovered and it is anticipated that micro-excavations will be complete by the end of January."

Explore the topic
Topics:

Share this page

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by email