THE 2,000-year-old grave of an Iron Age warrior has been discovered in the trenches of a new housing development.

The discovery by archaeologists is thought to indicate a burial site unique in the UK – and so important that the find was kept under wraps until the delicate process of moving the remains to a laboratory had been completed.

This was for fear of illegal treasure-hunters descending on North Bersted, Bognor Regis.

Archaeologists believe the remains, from between 40AD and 60AD, are of a wealthy man in his 30s who was either a highly decorated soldier or a member of an extremely important family, maybe even a prince.

He was buried with a rich array of Roman goods including a Montefortino helmet – only ever previously found on the continent – a shield and highly-decorated lattice sheets.

The helmet and shield suggest he may have been sent to Britain by his family to be educated or fight.

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