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Rare Bronze Age necklace is found

Submitted by coldrum on Friday, 30 January 2009  Page Views: 1318

Neolithic and Bronze Age

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A rare amber necklace believed to be about 4,000 years old has been uncovered in Greater Manchester.

Archaeologists made the find while excavating a cist - a type of stone-lined grave - in Mellor, Stockport.

It is the first time a necklace of this kind from the early Bronze Age has been found in north-west England.

Experts from the University of Manchester Archaeological Unit said a amber necklace was one of the ultimate status symbols of the period.

The necklace consists of dozens of pierced amber beads of various sizes, linked together on a length of fibre.

It was discovered in the cist by experts from the university and local Mellor Archaeological Trust, who said the mystery was now how the material got to the north west.

"Amber is very significant," said Vicky Nash, of the Mellor Archaeological Trust, who found the ancient item.

"It's associated with burials in the prehistoric period but it's not readily available, the nearest source is in the Baltic [region].

"So to find that [necklace] in conjunction with a cist, it shows it was a burial of somebody particularly important at that time."

bbc.co.uk.
Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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Archaeologists find 4,000-year-old necklace in Bronze Age grave by coldrum on Friday, 30 January 2009
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A 4,000-year-old amber necklace was unearthed in a stone-lined grave, archaeologists said today.

The find was made by archaeologists from the University of Manchester Field Archaeology Centre and Mellor Archaeological Trust during excavations in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in June.

It is the first time a necklace of this kind from the early Bronze Age has been found in north west England.

Peter Noble from The University of Manchester, who led the dig, said: "An amber necklace of this sort was one of the most important ways that people of the early Bronze Age could display their power and influence.

"The fact that it has been found in the north west of England is pretty amazing and extremely rare.

"The necklace was made of amber - which is not found in this region.

"In fact, the nearest source is in the Baltic so we're bound to ask, how did it get here and who brought it?

"The fact that this was found in an area that was always considered to be barren raises some really interesting questions about what was going on at the time in terms of status and wealth."

The necklace was restored at the University of Bolton and will be displayed at the Stockport Story museum, in Stockport, later this year.

Mr Noble added: "You can't really put a price on an objects like this - the necklace is worth as much as anyone is willing to pay.

"But it is part of the heritage of the north west, so we are keen to keep it here."

http://www.24dash.com/news/Communities/2008-12-01-Archaeologists-find-4-000-year-old-necklace-in-Bronze-Age-grave
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