Story highlights
- Remains of people believed to have been buried about 2,500 years ago have been found in northern England
- The findings will pave the way for the largest study of an Iron Age population in 35 years
London (CNN)The remains of men, women and children believed to have been buried about 2,500 years ago have been found in a town in northern England, according to the Press Association news agency.
The findings have been hailed as "a hugely important discovery," which can boost experts' understanding of Iron Age Britain, Paula Ware, managing director at MAP Archaeological Practice, told PA.
Archeologists discover Bronze Age houses 03:29
Builders found the ruins of the burial ground working on a housing development in the town of Pocklington, East Yorkshire.
The site includes more than 75 square barrows containing skeletons believed to be the remains of people from the Arras Culture who lived in the region in the Middle Iron Age as far back as 800 B.C.
Archaeologists also found weapons on the site, including a shield, a sword and 10 spears, and artifacts such as ancient pots, brooches and 360 amber and glass beads.
"We are hoping that these findings shed light on the ritual of Iron Age burial," Ware said.
"As we can assume from the shield and sword burials, these were significant members of society, so our understanding of culture and key figures of the time could be really enhanced."
Archaeologists find village frozen in time 00:59
The findings will pave the way for the largest study of an Iron Age population in almost four decades.
The analysis will center on whether the population was indigenous or had migrated from the continent. Archaeologists also hope to find out how these people died, whether they were related and what stresses the bodies went through while they were alive.
Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
Scientists are excavating the best-preserved Bronze Age village ever found in the UK, located in the marshlands of eastern Britain, at a site dubbed Must Farm. Pictured is a replica of a Bronze Age house that shares similarities with two ancient dwellings at the site, which stood on stilts.
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
Archeologists have found footprints, beads, a skull, and even a pot still holding food. Remains of the stilts are visible (wrapped in bands, center.)
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
Scientists also uncovered the backbone of a cow, but don't know if it was for food or decoration.
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
Marks left in wood show that the villagers used axes.
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
From above, the round shape of this Bronze Age dwelling is clear.
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
This pottery was found nearly intact at the site.
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
The site also yielded this head of a spear.
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
The villagers had bronze tools for cutting, like this one found at the site.
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Photos: See inside a Bronze Age village
Every item found at the site is recorded, photographed and drawn by an archeological artist.
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"At present we are still at the early analytical stages of reviewing these findings," said Peter Morris, development director at David Wilson Homes, where the remains were found.
"However, we do understand that this discovery is very rare and of international importance."
