Amesbury Archer

Amesbury Archer

1. May 3rd, 2002, archaeologists found the grave of a man dating back to around 2,300 BC - The Early Bronze Age, at Amesbury in Wiltshire, England

2. Nicknamed "The Amesbury Archer" due to the wrist guards and arrowheads that were found with him

3. A second skeleton was found nearby - revealed to be related to him

   • Possibly a close relative - could suggest he may have been living in area for long time

4. Tests on the bones - showed he was a man between 35 - 45 and of a strong build

   • Abscess on jaw
   • Suffered casualty - few years before death, to knee, causing a limp - not a factor in death
   • Suffered from infection in jaw - caused constant pain
   • Other tests on enamel - revealed he grew up in central Europe - tests couldn't pinpoint the country he originated from
   • Test revealed - must have lived in the Alps region when a child - either Switzerland, Austria or Germany

5. Grave contained around a hundred objects

   • Complete skeleton
   • 3 copper knives
   • 2 small gold hair tresses
   • 2 stone wrist guards
   • 16 flint arrowheads
   • 5 pots
   • Other artefacts
   • Gold was dated to as early as 2,470 BC
   • Amount of grave goods were about 10 times than the usual number of grave goods found from other graves
     • Richest Bronze Age find in Britain

6. Even though buried with archery equipment - cushion stone could suggest metalwork rather than an archer

   • Metalworking was a new skill - may have brought new skill with him to Britain
   • This expertise would have been desired and knowledge of this skill - means high status amongst others
     • Explains why he had so many artefacts

7. Some grave goods hint at what he was wearing

   • Wrist guard on forearm - protected from recoil of bow
     • Could suggest he was a skilled hunter
   • A bone pin - suggest a piece of clothing that required a pin, like a cloak
   • Copper knife (partially concealed by torso) - may have been worn in a sheath

8. Possibility that gold hair tresses and copper knives were not his own possessions

   • Metals were new - rare and valuable - sign of respect
   • Link back to possible knowledge of metalworking
     • Would have been one of the first people in Britain to work gold
   • Others repaid him - placed rare and valuable metals - showcase his status

9. Conclusion

   • He may have had a high status - led to grave full of grave goods
   • Hierarchy of status amongst population
   • They believed in the afterlife
   • Not all possessions were his - many were offerings - take into perceived afterlife - enable him to live comfortably
   • Many opinions on whether he was really an archer in the professional sense, or a skilled hunter, or a metalworker - evidence suggests that each could be correct, or could have been all three