Deal Warrior facts for kids
The Deal Warrior, also known as the Mill Hill Warrior, is a famous Iron Age burial. It was discovered in 1988 near Deal, Kent, England. This burial is very special because it included a rare bronze headdress. Because of this headdress, some people think the person buried there might have been a druid.
What Was Found in the Grave?
This ancient grave dates back to about 250 to 150 BCE. Inside, archaeologists found the skeleton of a man. He was in his thirties and was not very tall or strongly built.
Along with the skeleton, many important items were found:
- A long iron sword.
- Bronze parts for a sword holder, called a scabbard.
- Bronze parts for a belt.
- A bronze pin, or brooch, decorated with coral.
- Bronze parts for a large shield.
These items were very valuable during the Iron Age. Swords were expensive and usually owned by important people or wealthy freemen. Finding such items suggests that the Deal Warrior was a very important person in his community.
The Special Crown
On the skull of the man, archaeologists found a bronze headband. There were also remains of another band that would have gone over the top. This special headdress became known as the "crown."
When it was first found, the crown was badly damaged. Experts thought this damage was caused by farming equipment. After careful cleaning, they saw that the crown was beautifully decorated. It showed a style of art called La Tène. The bronze looks dull now, but long ago, it would have been polished to shine brightly.
Scientists also found tiny marks of hair inside the crown. This shows that the crown was worn directly on the head. It was not worn over a helmet or any other lining.
Was He a Druid?
The unique crown found with the Deal Warrior has led to some interesting ideas. Similar headdresses have been found at later Romano-British religious sites. These include places like Hockwold in Norfolk and Wanborough in Surrey. The crown also looks a bit like descriptions of other old finds from places like Newnham Croft and Cerrigydrudion.
Some historians believe that the crowns found at these later temples might be part of a very old tradition. This idea of a religious connection has made some people think the Deal Warrior might have been a druid. Druids were important religious and intellectual leaders in Britain before the Romans arrived.
However, other historians have a different idea. They suggest that the crown, combined with the warrior items in the grave, means he was a military leader. It's still a mystery, and both ideas are possible!
See also
In Spanish: Guerrero de Deal para niños
