Iron Age war trumpet discovered in Bardwell field by metal detectorist in 2016 could sell for £3,000 at auction

An Iron Age war trumpet that's the first of its kind to have been found in England is set to fetch £3,000 at auction next month.

The boar-headed wind instrument, known as a Carnyx, was once used to strike fear into soldiers in bloody battles almost 2,000 years ago.

At just 6cm long, it's a metre shorter than the typical bronze Carnyx, which was used throughout the Celtic era in wars and ceremonies - but it could be a broken fragment.

Metal detectorist Ivan Bailey, 60, found the object lodged in a lump of clay while scanning a field in Bardwell in 2016.

Experts at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds established that it resembled a Carnyx or war trumpet, but was much smaller.

It's the only known Carnyx to be found in England and the first in Britain since 1816, when one was discovered in Deskford, Scotland.

In 2004, archaeologists discovered a 100 BC deposit at Tintignac in Corrèze, France.

The Carnyx is expected to fetch £2,000-£3,000 when it goes under the hammer at Dix Noonan Webb auction house in London on December 1.

Proceeds from the auction will be split between Ivan and the landowner.

Nigel Mills, a consultant at Dix Noonan Webb, said: “The miniature trumpet which dates from the 1st century AD has a hollow slightly curved shaft with a snarling boar’s head at the summit with a wide-open mouth projecting forwards and a series of curving crests along its back.

"There is a small opening behind the head which could have been for attachment of a wooden tongue.”

Mr Mills added: "The only known Carnyx found in Britain was in 1816 in Deskford (Scotland) and was a lip reed instrument mounted on a vertical hollow pole with a mouthpiece at the bottom – it is now in the National Museum of Scotland.

"Three Carnyx players are illustrated on the famous Gundestrup cauldron, which is on display in the National Museum of Denmark.”