5,000-Year-Old Chalk Drum Is ‘One Of The Most Significant’ Finds In Britain
A 5,000-year-old drum sculpture made of chalk was unearthed near Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire, England, and has been dubbed “one of the most significant” discoveries of ancient times in the country.
Found alongside a bone pin and chalk ball in the grave of three children, the drum sculpture harks back to a previous discovery of the three Folkton Drums. These were located not far away in North Yorkshire.
To this day, not much is known about the Folkton Drums and they are often considered one of the most “enigmatic” ancient objects discovered, according to The Guardian. They have resided at the British Museum since 1889.
First discovered by Allen Archaeology in 2015, the Burton Agnes drum was positioned above the head of one of the children in the grave. Researchers have stated that they believe it might’ve been placed there as a form of talisman to protect the children, per the Guardian.
It was quite the discovery! We're looking forward to saying more about it.
— Allen Archaeology 💙 (@allenarchaeo) February 10, 2022
Intricate engravings are scattered across the sculpture, more prominent than the previous trio. The BBC has reported that the motifs are of British and Irish artistic style, which was common during the time Stonehenge was built.
It “reflects connections between communities in Yorkshire, Stonehenge, Orkney and Ireland,” British Museum curator Neil Wilkin tells the news outlet. Its discovery was “highly moving,” he states, saying that the emotions the new drum expresses are “powerful and timeless.”
According to Wilkin, further study of the carvings will “help to decipher the symbolism and beliefs of the era in which Stonehenge was constructed.”
The Burton Agnes drum will be going on display for the first time as part of the British Museum’s World of Stonehenge exhibition, running through mid-July. It will be shown alongside the previously discovered Folkton drums.
[via the BBC and The Guardian, image via the Trustees of the British Museum]
