Golfers try to avoid all hazards, from water and rough to other players putting their lines. The hazard in Lincolnshire was almost a rare early bronze-age coffin of the size of a telephone box.
Historic England revealed Friday details about a remarkable discovery. The work was being done on a pond for a golf course in July 2018. It was during hot weather.
It is approximately 3m long and 1m wide. The log coffin is believed to be over 4,000 years old. The remains of a man who was buried with anaxe are found inside.
Archaeologists have found that the coffin was hollowed from an oak tree trunk. The body was then padded with plants and a gravel mound was built over it. This practice was only available to those who were of high social status in the bronze age society.
There was an intense race to stop the rapid degrading of the coffin once it was exposed. There were archaeologists nearby.
Dr Hugh Wilmott is a senior lecturer in European Historical Archaeology at University of Sheffield. He said: "Fortunately, when the burial was discovered, me and a team of students and staff from the department of arheology were working on an excavation nearby for research and training.
It was an amazing learning experience for the students, and I am so glad we were able help.
This axe is a rare find due to its wood shaft and stone head. Photograph: Charlotte Graham
This axe is a rare find due to its wood shaft and stone head. It is one of 12 such axes that have been found in Britain. Archaeologists believe it was more of a symbol of authority and less a practical tool.
One of the approximately 65 coffins known to exist in Britain is this one. It was kept in cold storage for a year before being moved to York Archaeological Trust where it is still under preservation.
Ian Panter, the head of conservation at the trust said that his team was skilled in conserving waterlogged finds. We hope to preserve it within 12 months, but we expect to treat the coffin over two years due to its large size.
After that, the coffin will be moved to Lincoln's Collection Museum.
Lindsey Cawrey is Lincolnshire County Council's executive councillor for Culture. She said that it was an exciting discovery for the county, and that she couldn't wait to see it in the museum collection.
She said: We are thrilled to be able to share our story and the results from the scientific analysis with researchers and visitors to Lincoln when the finds have been conserved. We will be able provide future generations with access to these valuable finds.
Historic England provided funding of almost 70,000 pounds to support the preservation of the coffin and prevent its destruction after being exposed to sunlight and air.
The coffin was found at Tetney Golf Club near Grimsby. Mark Casswell (the club's owner) said that his family had been farming there for many years before he opened the golf course.
He said that he never would have thought of a different world beneath the fields. It is amazing to see how well the axe has been preserved, with its handle still intact as if it were made yesterday. Have a nice photo of it up on our clubhouse wall.
