Bronze Age shield on display in Yeovil

11:50am Saturday 26th July 2008

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A RARE Bronze Age shield is now in the hands of South Somerset District Council’s heritage staff after arriving at the Museum of South Somerset in Yeovil.

The ancient shield - which dates back from around 1000 BC - was found at local landmark Cadbury Castle, and was the first shield in northwest Europe to have been found at its archaeological roots.

Somerset County Council has loaned it to the Museum of South Somerset to ensure this important find remains accessible to the public while it develops the £6.8 million Museum of Somerset, which is due to open in the summer of 2010.

South Somerset’s visitor services manager, David Hill, said: “There are only 20 Bronze Age shields in the country so we are incredibly privileged to be able to display and care for not only one of Somerset’s most precious relics but one of the nation’s.

“We hope that people will hurry down to see this fascinating local artefact.

“What’s most interesting is its past. A number of Bronze Age shields have suffered damage and it is believed that this particular shield was stabbed in three places as part of a ritual ‘killing of the shield’ at the time of its burial in South Cadbury. It is also the most southerly shield discovered to date, 11 years ago.”

The South Cadbury Shield will be on display at the newly accredited Museum of South Somerset in Hendford, Yeovil.

The council’s leisure and culture portfolio holder, Cllr Sylvia Seal, said: “We are lucky to live in a historically and culturally rich part of the country and we should all take time to appreciate this local historical artefact.

“It’s very exciting that we have been allowed to display this exceptional shield and is a real boost to the area.”