In 2018 an unusual grave was discovered during an illegal excavation in Heumen. Nico Roymans, professor of Archaeology, describes the tomb as a rich Celtic chariot burial from the Iron Age, around the 5th century BC.
The state of the contents of the grave indicates that the deceased was cremated on a stake, along with the burial goods. The remains were subsequently gathered into a compact mass and placed in a burial pit only 50 centimetres wide.
In addition to the two-wheeled carriage and cremation remains, fittings from decorated horse harnesses and the remains of weapons and bronze and earthenware vessels were found in the grave.
Researchers hope to identify the deceased, understand his or her role in society and shed light on the purpose of the chariot. It would also be interesting to find out why the tomb was constructed in this way.
It is clear that the burial goods originated in the south. Two-wheeled chariots were used by Celtic leaders in northern France, central Germany and England. Remains of such chariots have been found there in inhumation graves, where the body is buried in the ground. In Heumen, however, the deceased was cremated, and the burial goods too were deformed by the heat of the stake.
Although the find is of great scientific interest, excavating a grave is illegal. The treasure hunter is being prosecuted.
