The ancient sculpture is the most important prehistoric art found in the UK
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Loading... - Mason Bell
- 08 Mar 2022
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A 5,000-year-old chalk sculpture discovered in East Yorkshire, due to be on display in the British Museum, has been called the most important piece of prehistoric art found in the UK in the last century. The object, which archaeologists have named the Burton Agnes Drum, is a chalk antique sculpture that was decorated with motifs similar to the art style at the same time that Stonehenge was built.
The drum was discovered next to the burial of three children. This piece of sculptural art is considered such an important discovery because of its resemblance to a group of objects in the collection of the British Museum.
The Folkton Drums are three barrel-shaped cylinders made of chalk. They were found in North Yorkshire along with the remains of a child. The pieces of prehistoric art have been part of the collection of the British Museum since 1889. According to the British Museum, these are some of the most famous and mysterious ancient objects ever discovered in Britain.
There is not so much information about the Folkton drums and their context. But this new drum, found about 15 miles away, sheds new light on them. The exact age of the Folkton drums has never been known, and it is generally agreed that they were made around 2500–2000 BC.
However, thanks to new technology and the discovery of a new antique sculpture, the Folkton drums can be identified as nearly 500 years older than previously thought.
This new discovery, only the fourth surviving example of its kind, is almost identical to the Folkton drums and could also be described as a chalk drum. Despite the use of the term “drum”, it is believed that the pieces of sculptural art had no musical function. Instead, they are works of sculptural art and are interpreted as talismans to protect the deceased children they accompanied.
The Burton Agnes drum is presented to the public along with all three Folkton drums. This is a part of the World of Stonehenge exhibition at the British Museum.
Neil Wilkin, Curator of the World of Stonehenge at the British Museum, said the discovery was truly remarkable. Read More...
