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Iron Age artefacts that were discovered beneath an airfield in Wales have been declared national treasure.
Parts of a Celtic chariot, believed to be around 2,000 years old, were found on the site of RAF Valley in Anglesey in April last year.
The excavations were led by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and involved volunteers from Operation Nightingale, an archaeology-based DIO initiative that supports the well-being of serving and former military personnel.
Among the finds in the shallow peat deposit was a terret ring, which would have been used to guide the reins of a Celtic chariot. Also uncovered was a horse bridle-bit thought to date from AD 60.
Retired RAF Squadron Leader David Ulke, who found the ring, said that in his long involvement with archaeology it was ‘by far the most significant recovery I have ever made’.
Each of the items is believed to form part of the Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard, one of the most important collections of Iron Age artefacts in the UK – comprising 150 Bronze and Iron Age objects deposited between 300 BC and AD 100.
The hoard was initially uncovered in the 1940s during work to extend RAF Valley for American bombers. The recent dig took place ahead of further refurbishment works.
DIO’s Senior Archaeologist Richard Osgood commented: ‘These finds at RAF Valley are extremely exciting for all involved.’
‘The new discoveries have confirmed the suspicions of earlier archaeologists that there was more to be found from this particular hoard,’ he added.
Having been declared treasure, the items have been gifted to Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, which is already home to several other items from the same site.
