ARCHAEOLOGISTS have stumbled on what could be an Iron Age grave in Chiseldon.

A man with a metal detector unearthed a cauldron thought to date back to 50BC.

The site, which is close to the earthworks at Barbury Castle, could hold vital clues to how Iron Age people lived in the north Wiltshire chalklands.

Wiltshire County Council, which is hoping to recover the item in the summer, had intended to keep the find under wraps.

Roy Canham, a county archaeologist, said bosses feared treasure hunters would descend on the area and rip up farmland.

For this reason the Ad-vertiser is not revealing the exact location.

Mr Canham said it was common practice for ancient civilisations to bury loved ones with unusual items.

He said: "People in the Iron Age were often buried with all kinds of odd items like wine mixing bowels and pottery.

"We are really guessing at what this site might contain but it's possible that it may be a burial site.

"Another theory is that it could be some kind of store.

"You have to remember that banks weren't around then.

"People would simply pace three steps and bury their worldly goods next to a tree.

"This could be rather exciting but it really needs a proper excavation to find out more."

The cauldron, which measures about 15 inches wide, was buried beneath three feet of chalk and mud.

A brief examination was carried out and it was established that the pot was plated in bronze but there are no other details.

Mr Canham added that the area around Chiseldon commanded great strategic importance during the era.

"Barbury Castle, which dates back to 700BC, was important from a defen-sive point of view," he said

"It defended whole communities.

"The chalklands are littered with reminders of its ancient past.

"You can still see ancient fields next to the castle."

Katie Hinds, Wiltshire's finds liaison officer, said: "We are still very much in the dark.

"The cauldron could be anything from Iron Age to medieval.

"This is a vulnerable site and we want to carry out a careful and proper excavation.

"We are hoping to use a local archaeological team in the summer when we have raised sufficient funds."

David Bailey, chairman of the Chiseldon Local History Group said: "This find is very interesting. It's the sort of thing that doesn't happen very often.

"As to what exactly it is we can only speculate.

"The ground has been re-sealed and we now await the excavation."

Kevin Shoesmith