Bronze Age artefacts reveal insights into Leeds' ancient history

Bronze Age artefacts found in an ancient burial mound in Leeds offer a "fascinating" insight into how people were laid to rest, experts say. Cremated remains and fragments of an urn were among items found during archaeological investigations on a housing project at Pitty Close Farm in Drighlington. The artefacts are believed to be part of funeral rituals carried out by local people about 4,000 years ago. The collection will be stored at Leeds Discovery Centre, with three artefacts going on display to the public later this year. The discoveries were made by experts from West Yorkshire Archaeological Advisory Services during a dig in 2020. The team uncovered the cremated remains of a child and three adults, fragments of a decorated clay urn, part of a pin which was carefully carved from a piece of animal bone and the shattered blade of a delicately honed flint knife. Both the human remains and the objects are now part of the growing archaeology collection at Leeds Discovery Centre, where they will be stored for learning and research, with the urn, needle and knife also going on display to visitors. Leeds Museums and Galleries curator of archaeology Kat Baxter said: "This is a fascina