This strange object was discovered in Avanton, on the Rhohe, about 197 miles from Vix and the grave of the Lady of Vix.
On our way to Vix we stopped in Paris to have a look at ancient antiquities found in the area around the Rhone River. I bought this postcard in the Museum shop.
This strange, fascinating gold cone is an extremely rare object The cone was discovered in poor condition and has undergone major restoration. It measures 5 cm high (about 25 inches). The restoration reveals a circular pattern, and designs which are probably symbols of the sun. This rare "cone" is dated between 800-1400 B.C the later Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age, and the emergence of the early Celtic Hallstatt tribes. Some experts believe that the "cone" was worn as high headdresses in religious and secular ritual ceremonies. I describe a cone like this in my novel Realms of Gold. However, I imagined it impaled on a long birch pole and carried in procession in a ritual ceremony.
