Tuesday 24 April 2007

Horse at Hougue Boette

 
 
La Hougue Boëte

The horse burial at La Hougue Boëte has attracted the Section s attention. These burials are uncommon and this is possibly the only one known within a wide radius. The burial was discovered in 1911 and for many years was considered to be of Neolithic origin. At least five horses were sacrificed and a more recent analysis of the horses teeth judged them to be modern. As considerable doubt now exists about the burial, the History Section has arranged for one of the teeth to be sent for carbon dating to a laboratory in Oxford. This has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of Lloyds TSB Group, to which we are most grateful. The results of the test are expected shortly.
 
 
How Old was the Horse? Horse burials are rare and evoke widespread interest. To have one located in Jersey and not to have
established its age is an omission which is hoped will soon be corrected. Currently one of the many teeth from the horses
connected with the burial, and it has been identified there were as many as five horses sacrificed, has been offered for
carbon dating. Carbon dating is a long process taking 4 or 5 months to complete and the results from the Oxford laboratory
will not be available until early in the new year. We should then know, thanks to Lloyds TSB who sponsored the project,
whether the grave was neolithic, Gallo-Roman, Teutonic or modern.
 
 
The Report on the Radio Carbon Dating of the Horse's tooth from La Hougue Boët was circulated among those present (copy in Société Library). Frank Falle said that the date was a surprise and would require a revision of the interpretation of similar finds in Brittany. There was a general discussion on the Celts and their activities in Armorica and southern Britain.
 
 
Dr Mark Patton in his article on page 252 of the 2002 Bulletin argued that the graves found on Green Island may
be much later than predicted; possibly Medieval. Following the success of the Horse Burial at La Hougue Boete being radio-carbon
dated to between 60 BC and 50 AD, sponsorship money has again been generously provided by Lloyds TSB
Bank to unlock the answer to the Green Island (La Motte) burials.
 
 

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