Ancient Royal Tomb Unearthed in Scotland

A spectacular royal tomb chock full of the personal belongings of a Bronze Age ruler has been discovered in Scotland, reports the Independent. The 4,000-year-old tomb, marked with engravings, lies at the center of a giant circle of 200 timber obelisks in Forteviot, which served as a capital of an 8th-century Pictish Kingdom. The ancient leader of the new find rests on a bed of white quartz pebbles and birch bark with gold and bronze daggers.

Researchers called the discovery "unparalleled" in Britain. "The sheer size of the stone slabs used to construct the tomb, the extremely rare rock engraving, the rare preservation of the leather, wood, and bark items and the high status location make this a find of both national and international importance," said prehistorian Gordon Noble, who led the dig. (More neolithic period stories.)