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Analysis of cauldrons nearly two and a half millennia-old has allowed archaeologists to create a near-perfect replica, providing insight into the skills of Iron Age metalworkers in the process.

A unique collection of Iron Age metal artifacts which shed new light on feasting rituals among prehistoric communities was discovered by University of Leicester archaeologists in 2013, during an excavation near the village of Glenfield, Leicestershire.

The trove of metalwork, one of the largest of its kind from the county, included a complete sword, dress items including pins and a brooch, but the majority of the assemblage comprised remains of a group of 11 large cauldrons made of copper alloy and iron: one of only two large collections of such objects from anywhere in Iron Age Europe.

The collection is unprecedented in terms of the overall mix of findings, with the cauldrons highlighting the role of the settlement as a probable host site for feasting, with associated traditions of ritual deposition of important objects.

The cauldrons are made from several separate parts, comprising iron rims, hemispherical copper alloy bowls and two iron ring handles attached to an iron upper band. They were found in an extremely fragile condition and were lifted from the excavation site in soil blocks for later analysis.

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Since the end of the fieldwork by University of Leicester Archaeological Services, painstaking micro-excavation has been carried out on the delicate cauldron remains by conservators from MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology). Having spent so long buried in heavy Leicestershire clay, the cauldrons had become corroded and deformed, but a combination of CT-scanning, targeted X-ray scans and careful cleaning and sampling has revealed important information about their manufacture, use and the condition of the cauldrons before they were disposed of nearly 2,400 years ago.

Liz Barham, Senior Conservator at MOLA said, "The conservation of the Glenfield Park cauldrons through detailed recording, sampling and integration with scientific analysis has revealed many new insights into their manufacture, repair and use in their working life, building on work with earlier cauldron discoveries. Despite their crushed and corroded condition conservators have been able to identify many details to contribute to research, to inform the making of a replica and perhaps provide a glimpse of the Iron Age communities that made, used and finally discarded them."

Despite the condition of the remains, the conservation and scientific work uncovered intricate details about Iron Age metalworking skills, revealing use of sophisticated techniques to shape the thin copper sheeting of the bowl, and in quenching and welding the iron.

John Thomas, director of the excavation and Deputy Director of ULAS, said, "Cauldrons are substantial vessels associated with large gatherings and feasts, and the Glenfield examples are no exception, with capacities ranging between 15 and 57 liters they could have catered for several hundred people if all used at the same time. They must have been an important part of the feasting activities associated with this settlement but after a long period of use they were eventually buried in areas across the site for unknown reasons.

"This is the first time we have discovered such clear evidence for ancient feasting in Leicestershire and the results of the project will be important for understanding the social aspects of Iron Age communities in the Midlands and beyond."'

To understand how the cauldrons looked when they were in use, Hector Cole, an archaeological ironworker, was commissioned to create a full-scale replica. This resulted in a stunning new cauldron that drew on the key features of the Glenfield assemblage, and, importantly, the observations from the conservation.

Hector Cole said, "The forging of the cauldrons was a steep learning curve for me to put myself into the minds of the people who made the original cauldrons. The technical skills they used were of the highest order and, in my opinion, they were specialist cauldron makers of their time.

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"Today it is so easy to mechanically punch or drill holes to a particular diameter and yet they were doing the same in bronze and iron with great precision. They were also fully aware of the fact that 'creep' needs to be taken into consideration when putting the two main parts together with so many rivets.

"Do it in the wrong order and you end up with a distorted shape that cannot be corrected. I was fortunate enough to know the correct technique to enable me to put the cauldrons together with no mistakes. I have great respect for the Iron Age metalworkers and would like to think that my efforts came up to their standards of workmanship."

The results of the project to date were in the June issue of Current Archaeology magazine, and the full report from the excavation will be published next year.

Until then, the story of the Glenfield settlement and the creation of the replica cauldron will feature in a temporary display as part of the refurbished Jewry Wall: A Real Roman Experience museum, which opened in Leicester on July 26th.

The Glenfield Cauldrons project took place over the winter of 2013/14 (excavation) and was commissioned in advance of Optimus Point, a large-scale warehouse and distribution development by Wilson Bowden Ltd. close to the M1, and the village of Glenfield both situated on the urban fringes of Leicester.