Remnants of an Iron-Age feast, including cattle skulls and 13 cauldrons, have
been unearthed in Chiseldon, United Kingdom, according to a report in the latest British
Archaeology
The discovery marks the largest grouping of early cauldrons
ever found in Europe. One cauldron features a handle plate in the form of a
cow's head; zoomorphic decoration is otherwise unknown on a British cauldron.
"Analysis of the interiors of the cauldrons has even
revealed traces of animal fats, a tantalizing suggestion that these objects
might have been used in cooking and serving meat-rich stews at Iron-Age feasts
over 2,000 ago," Julia Farley, curator of European Iron Age
collections at the British Museum, told Discovery News.
Farley's colleague Jody Joy, as well as Alexandra Baldwin
and Jamie Hood from the museum, are still studying the artifacts, which were
found buried in a 6.6-feet-wide pit. The cauldrons were made from iron and
copper alloy in the second or first century B.C.
Each was built to last, with an iron rim and band supporting
circular suspension handles. The main body of the cauldrons consisted of a
central band and bowl of sheet copper alloy riveted together. "The iron rim and handles gave strength and rigidity,
while the copper-alloy bowl acted as an excellent heat conductor," the
researchers note.
When the cauldrons were buried, nearby Barbury Castle still might have been occupied. Another hill fort, Liddington Castle, likely had been
abandoned. Nevertheless, given the possible fort protection and open space,
"Chiseldon looks to be an ideal meeting place," the researchers believe.
What the cauldrons were last used for is a bit of a mystery,
but Joy and team suspect "large quantities of food and drink were probably
consumed." Feasts at the time "would have marked significant events in the
calendar or special occasions, such as marriages."
Beef was the star
attraction at the last big feast involving the cauldrons, the evidence suggests. The two cattle
skulls, cow cauldron decoration and traces of animal fats all theoretically point to beef.
But the experts say it's too soon to make that conclusion.
Archaeologist Mike Pitts, who also edits British
Archaeology, told Discovery News that "notwithstanding the cattle skulls, it
might well have been pork. Pigs were important animals in feasting. Of course,
whatever was in the cauldrons was boiled."
While the British are now renowned for beef dishes, with the
Tower of London ceremonial guardians even known as Beefeaters, beef
wasn't always so popular and widely available, Pitts said.
"Roast beef as a national dish really took root in the 18th
century, which is also when 'les rosbifs' apparently became popular in France
as a nickname for the English," he said.
Farley agreed, saying, "Iron Age people also ate pig, sheep,
and occasionally horse. Indeed, pork seems often to have been favored for
feasting."
DNA testing of the lipids in future could solve the mystery.
(Images: British Museum, John Winterburn, Wessex Archaeology; Stephen Crummy)
