The organic remains, found in August 2011, are thought to offer an insight into life on the rugged south western moorland 4,000 years ago (Picture: BBC/PA)

Human remains and Bronze Age artefacts discovered on Dartmoor have been hailed as one of the most significant archaeological finds of the last century.

Researchers found cremated human bones wrapped in animal hide alongside jewellery and textiles in August 2011, and today claimed they provide a new insight into life in the south-western moorland 4,000 years ago.

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The artefacts, discovered within a granite tomb-like casing known as a cist, are made from materials not discovered in Britain at the time and hint – for the first time, the researchers say – at trading links between the area and the continent.




The investigation, due to be broadcast as part of BBC One’s Inside Out South West tonight, is considered internationally important and the remains have captured the interest of experts from all over the country.

Jane Marchand, senior archaeologist with the Dartmoor National Park, said the haul was among the most significant since the 19th century.

She said: ‘This is an incredible find, we had no idea when we started that we could end up with something quite as astounding as human remains.

‘These artefacts, which are believed to be made from shale and amber, show that perhaps Dartmoor wasn’t quite the isolated, hard-to-reach place we all thought it was 4,000 years ago.

‘This has been fascinating to work on, but it’s just one piece in a puzzle. The story is only part-told.’

Mike Dilger is to present a BBC1 documentary on the discovery tonight (Picture: BBC/PA)

The investigation began 12 years ago, when archaeologists hoped the cist – one of the few unopened burial chests on the moorland – would offer vital clues about the environment from times past.

But just three days into the dig, a much more significant discovery was made.

Mrs Marchand said: ‘We lifted the cist lid and saw some red fur with bits of bone sticking out. We thought a fox might have died there.

‘But then a little black bead fell out and we realised it was something much more interesting. And it looked like the fur had been wrapped around some remains, lying on the granite base of the cist.

‘We wrapped it in cling film and took it to the laboratory.’

Tests later confirmed the presence of human bones, teeth, a type of basket, and around 200 beads. Materials included shale and amber, brought from overseas, as well as tin – suggesting that people had been working the mineral off Dartmoor much earlier than previously thought.

Richard III’s skeleton was found in a car park in Leicester last year (Picture: Reuters)

The cist, measuring roughly 75cm wide by 150cm long, also contained a band of leather complete with tassels, believed to be some sort of clothing item. Some wooden jewellery, believed to be ear studs, was also discovered.

The findings follow the announcement by scientists at the University of Leicester this month that the skeleton exhumed in September last year during an archaeological dig in a car park is that of King Richard III.



Mrs Marchand added: ‘It is a very exciting time for archaeology.

‘We don’t yet know the age or the sex of the person whose remains have been found, and we may not. But this mystery is unfolding.

‘To be a part of it has been truly amazing.’

This was the first excavation of a burial site on Dartmoor for 100 years and is now considered to be the most important assemblage of prehistoric grave goods ever recovered from the region.

A documentary on the team’s findings is due to be broadcast on BBC1 (SW) tonight.