|
|
The
site, which lies on the boundary between Garton and Kirkburn, was discovered from
aerial photographs taken in 1984. Square ditched enclosures characteristic of
Iron Age burial mounds, although the mounds were no longer visible after centuries
of ploughing, indicated where graves could be expected. The two largest responded
well to geophysical survey with a proton-magnetometer, suggesting that one or
both might contain chariot burials like those excavated at Wetwang (see
information sheet 3). The excavation of one or more chariot burials was the
principal objective of the project, because Iron Age studies in Britain had benefited
so much from the excavation of the Wetwang finds. At Garton the promising burials
were part of a large cemetery, which would increase their significance and the
size of the enclosures suggested that they belonged to a different stage of the
burial tradition from that found in previous excavations.
The excavation has brought to light much information that is new about the
Iron Age in the region, particularly in the form of previously unknown
burial rites and the exciting (and unique) possibility that here was a
religious sanctuary in the middle of a cemetery. The reason for the choice
of site was probably the occasional appearance here of springs whence
a stream called Gypsey Race flows, in wet seasons, into the River Hull.
The Iron Age Celts held springs and rivers to be important as the homes
of gods and spirits. What more natural way than that could they have constructed
their sanctuaries on a site that from time to time water mysteriously
bubbled up to the surface, and as mysteriously disappeared again?
<Top of Page>
All content Copyright © 2004 - Hullwebs
(UK) - Terms of Use |
