Object of the Week: A Bronze Age man's pot found in a deep burial pit in Worcestershire

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

This prehistoric pot was discovered in a large burial pit in the Worcestershire town of Evesham

Found in a deep V-shaped ditch which might have formed part of a prehistoric or Roman field system, the male wrist guard alongside this vessel suggests it could have belonged to a prominent member of a Bronze Age community.

He was probably buried beneath a mound monument sometime between 4,500 and 4,100 years ago. Another vessel - badly-damaged but near-complete - was found in a cluster of pits next to the grave, although it was badly damaged.

“The ‘beaker’ burial was the really unexpected find,” says archaeologist Laurence Hayes.

“It was covered with intricate patterns and a polished stone archer’s wrist guard. No other remains were uncovered due to the poor preservation qualities of the local soil and geology.

“The findings corroborate local evidence for Bronze Age settlement on the gravel ridge above the River Avon."

The beaker has been sent to the Birmingham Museums Trust for conservation.

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Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art556644-object-week-bronze-age-vessel-evesham