Bronze Age warrior's skeleton discovered in Greece

An ancient Bronze Age warrior's skeleton has been discovered by archaeologists in Greece.

The skeleton, which is thought to have been in the ground for around 3,500 years, was found by a group of researchers from the University of Cincinnati and it's believed the warrior was buried with a large amount of jewellery and weapons.

The team described their find as follows: "On the floor of the grave lay the skeleton of an adult male, stretched out on his back. Weapons lay to his left, and jewelry to his right.

"Near the head and chest was a bronze sword, its ivory hilt covered in gold. A gold-hilted dagger lay beneath it. Still more weapons were found by the man's legs and feet."

According to the Guardian, the remains were uncovered on the site of the Palace of Nestor, on the Peloponnese peninsula.

The university reported that the team were initially under the impression that they were unearthing a Bronze Age house.

What they found instead was a grave shaft measuring 4 feet by 8 feet and around 5 feet in depth.

Shari Stocker, senior research associate at the university, said: "This previously unopened shaft grave of a wealthy Mycenaean warrior, dating back 3,500 years, is one of the most magnificent displays of prehistoric wealth discovered in mainland Greece in the past 65 years."

Stocker has also speculated that the remains are likely to be that of a 'powerful warrior or king' and it was someone who 'helped lay the foundations of the Mycenaean culture'.

The remains were found accompanied by bronze, silver and gold objects as well as a number of seal-stones decorated with 'intricate Minoan designs of goddesses'.

Among the objects found were: four solid-gold seal rings, six silver cups, a three-foot long bronze sword and a number of pieces of carved ivory.

The Greek Culture Ministry have announced that this find is 'the most important to have been discovered in 65 years'.

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