A UNIQUE collection of Iron Age metal artefacts, which sheds new light on feasting rituals among prehistoric communities, has been confirmed after scanning in Hillingdon.

Archaeologists from the University of Leicester discovered them during an excavation in Leicestershire.

They were shown to be of great historical significance by the team at the Paul Strickland Scanner Centre based at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood.

A trove of ancient treasures was unearthed, including 11 complete, or near complete, Iron Age cauldrons, ring-headed dress pins, a brooch and a cast copper alloy object known as a ‘horn-cap’, which may have been part of a ceremonial staff.

The cauldrons are extremely fragile and were lifted from site in soil blocks for later analysis.

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They were initially investigated at the Paul Strickland centre, an independent medical imaging centre, specialising in cancer, which has CT-scanning equipment large enough to accommodate the soil blocks.

Dr Andrew Gogbashian, consultant radiologist at the Paul Strickland Centre, said: “Using our medical imaging skills and experience to contribute to such a significant archaeological discovery is a real privilege.”

The centre receives no Government funds and relies entirely on its supporters.