Rare 2,000-year-old war trumpet, possibly linked to Celtic queen Boudica, discovered in England
Archaeologists have announced their discovery of a metal hoard that contained an extremely rare example of a Celtic battle trumpet.
The carnyx (war trumpet) is fragile and needs to be conserved before being removed from the block of dirt. (Image credit: © Norfolk Museums Service)
Archaeologists have recovered a rare 2,000-year-old war trumpet in England that may have been used in Queen Boudica's wars against the Romans. The battle trumpet, also known as a carnyx, was part of a hoard of metal artifacts discovered ahead of residential construction in West Norfolk last year.
The hoard was announced Wednesday (Jan. 7) by Pre-Construct Archaeology, the company that led the original excavation, and Historic England, the organization that is coordinating the research and conservation efforts.
Battle trumpets were used primarily by Celtic tribes in Iron Age Europe and were often taken by Roman soldiers as war trophies, according to representatives for Historic England. "This newly excavated example is one of only three known from Britain and is one of the most complete found in Europe," they said in a statement.
The carnyx was a bronze wind instrument similar to a trumpet, but it had an elongated, vertical shape that ended in an open-mouthed animal, such as a boar. It was a common part of Celtic soldiers' military gear, along with chain mail, shields and spears.
Experts at the National Museum of Scotland have created a replica of a carnyx that, when played by musician John Kenny, gives an impression of what the battle trumpet sounded like.
Secrets of the carnyx - YouTube 
Excavators also found part of a bronze military standard shaped like a boar's head. (Image credit: © Norfolk Museums Service)
Given the estimated first-century-A.D. date of the metal hoard and its discovery in West Norfolk, the items may have been used by Celts who were attempting to resist the incursion of the .