2,200 Years Old Celtic Woman Found Buried Inside A Tree ‘Wearing Fancy Clothes And Jewelry’

It’s believed the woman, who died 2,200 years ago, commanded great respect in her tribe, as she was buried in fine clothes and jewellery.

Scientists say the woman was Celtic. The Iron Age Celts are known to have buried members of their tribe in “tree coffins” buried deep underground.

The woman’s remains were found in the city of Zurich in 2017, according to Live Science.

Bedecked in a fine woolen dress and shawl, sheepskin coat, and a necklace made of glass and amber beads, researchers believe she performed little if any hard labor while she was alive. It’s estimated she was around 40 years old when she died, with an analysis of her teeth indicating a substantial sweet tooth.

Adorned in bronze bracelets and a bronze belt chain with iron clasps and pendants, this woman was not part of low social strata. Analysis of her bones showed she grew up in what is now modern-day Zurich, likely in the Limmat Valley.

Most impressive, besides her garments and accessories, is the hollowed-out tree trunk so ingeniously fixed into a coffin. It still had the exterior bark intact when construction workers stumbled upon it, according to the initial 2017 statement from Zurich’s Office of Urban Development.

While all of the immediate evidence — an Iron Age Celtic woman’s remains, her bewildering accessories, and clothing, the highly creative coffin — is highly interesting on its own, researchers have discovered a lot more to delve into since 2017.

The discovery of a 2,200-year-old Celtic woman buried inside a tree is certainly a remarkable archaeological find. The woman’s burial inside the tree is known as a “trunk burial,” a practice that was common in Celtic culture during the Iron Age. It is believed that these types of burials were reserved for high-status individuals in society, as they were considered a way to connect the deceased with the spiritual realm.

The fact that the woman was found wearing fancy clothes and jewelry further supports the idea that she was a person of high status. The clothing and jewelry may also provide insight into the fashion and style of the time period.

Archaeologists and historians will likely study the burial and the artifacts found with the woman to learn more about her life and the society she lived in. The discovery provides a unique glimpse into the cultural practices and beliefs of the Celtic people during the Iron Age.

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