Elaborate grave of a real-life Asterix warrior found in Sussex belongs to a French refugee who fled the Roman Army of Julius Caesar in 50BC
- Highly-elaborate grave of a real-life Asterix resistance fighter has been found
- The Iron Age warrior was buried with his glamorous and ornate head-dress
- Archaeologists believe the person may have been a refugee French Gallic fighter
- Due to the richness of the finds within the grave, we believe that the mystery warrior held one of the most prestigious roles in the country
A highly-elaborate grave of what could have been a real-life Asterix fighter has been discovered on a West Sussex building site.
The warrior was buried with an ornate head-dress, along with a sword and helmet, indicating that he once held ‘one of the most prestigious roles in the country’.
Archaeologists believe he may have been a refugee French Gallic fighter who fled Julius Caesar’s Roman army as they swept across continental Europe in about 50BC.
Asterix is a fictional character in the French comic book series of the same name which portrays him as a diminutive but fearless Gaulish warrior living in the time of the Gallic Wars in Britain.
The team described the find, which will go on display at the Chichester Museum in 2020, as ‘the most elaborately equipped warrior grave ever found in England’.
Part of the headdress from the helmet belonging to a real-life Asterix resistance fighter against the Romans that has been discovered on a West Sussex building site. The discovery will go on display at Chichester’s Novium Museum in January 2020
The grave was found during excavations ahead of a Berkeley Homes housing development in North Bersted in 2008.
But it has taken years of conservation and scientific analysis to prepare the artefacts for display.
‘It really is absolutely a unique find in the British Isles and in the wider continent,’ said Dr Melanie Giles, senior lecturer in archaeology at the University of Manchester.
‘We don’t have another burial that combines this quality of weaponry and Celtic art with a date that puts it around the time of Caesar’s attempted conquest of Britain.
‘We will probably never know his name, what we know from the archaeology is that he is either someone from eastern England who may have gone and fought with the Gauls, which we know were a problem for Caesar, as they were allies with the French, helping them with their struggle against him.
Dr Giles also said he might be a Frenchman who flees that conflict, possibly a real-life Asterix and lending aid in terms of the knowledge he has about strategy and tactics.
‘Also he brings with him his kit, extraordinary weaponry, a beautiful sword which is not like the swords we have, a new technology, style and design and helmet which is absolutely unique.
The warrior was buried with an ornate head-dress, along with a sword and helmet, indicating that he once held ‘one of the most prestigious roles in the country. Pictured here, the warrior’s helmet
The warrior was also buried with a sword which had been ‘decommissioned’ by being heated and bent along with his shield, spear and food for the afterlife Here, the sword belonging to the mystery warrior
The grave was found during excavations ahead of a Berkeley Homes housing development in North Bersted in 2008. But it has taken years of conservation and scientific analysis to prepare the artefacts for display
Asterix is a fictional character in the French comic book series Asterix which portrays him as a diminutive but fearless Gaulish warrior living in the time of the Gallic Wars in Britain
Asterix is a fictional character in the French comic book series Asterix which portrays him as a diminutive but fearless Gaulish warrior living in the time of the Gallic Wars in Britain. Dr Giles also said he might be a Frenchman who flees that conflict, possibly a real-life Asterix
James Kenny, Chichester District Council’s archaeologist, explained that the ‘mystery warrior’ could have been a military leader for King Commius who fled France after fighting Caesar.
He said: ‘Due to the richness of the finds within the grave, we believe that the mystery warrior held one of the most prestigious roles in the country.
‘This is one of the most exceptional finds in this particular archeological period and is of international significance.’
He explained that the key find was the helmet with its unique ornate bronze openwork crest which would have ‘shone like gold’ and had been decorated with horse-hair plumes.
The warrior was also buried with a sword which had been ‘decommissioned’ by being heated and bent along with his shield, spear and food for the afterlife.
Mr Kenny added: ‘What distinguishes the discovery from any other burial in Britain is the breathtaking quality and beauty of the artefacts and the range of his possessions.’