Discovery of 3000-year-old artefacts include a preserved thistle flower

In Lancashire, United Kingdom, archaeologists discovered a Late  Bronze Age hoard of artefacts among which a complete, pressed flower was discovered. The perfectly preserved flower, identified as a thistle, is said to be 3000 years old.

Artefacts discovered at the site (by The Guardian)
Artefacts discovered at the site (by The Guardian)

The flower was deliberately placed inside the hollow end of an axe handle and buried with other weapons, jewellery and ornaments. Most of the artefacts are in pristine condition. Another axe found within the hoard is said to have been filled with hazelnuts, possibly as part of a ritual offering.

The 3000 years old thistle flower (by The Guardian)
The 3000 years old thistle flower (by The Guardian)

Other discoveries from the site include spearheads with blades still sharp, axes, bracelets, arm rings, a chisel and a pair of ornaments thought to have been part of a horse harness. The objects are believed to be a part of a ritual offering – artefacts were possibly placed in a wet and waterlogged site.

(after The Guardian)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.