US Edition'Exceptional' hoard of 800 Iron Age artifacts found mysteriously burned and buried in UK field
- In December 2021, a metal detectorist discovered the Melsonby Hoard, a collection of over 800 Iron Age artifacts dating back 2,000 years, in a field near Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire.
- The hoard, found in a ditch 40cms beneath a ploughed field, appears to have been deliberately burned and buried, possibly as part of a funeral or ceremonial feast.
- The hoard includes intricate horse harnesses adorned with Mediterranean coral, spears, chariot wheels, vessels, a large iron mirror, and a cauldron, suggesting connections to a continent-wide trading system and the presence of wealthy Iron Age elites influenced by European trade.
- Durham University's Prof Tom Moore stated that the scale of destruction of the high-status objects in the hoard, which combines Mediterranean and British Iron Age styles, is rarely seen in Iron Age Britain and demonstrates the power of northern British elites.
- Historic England provided £120,000 in funding for the excavation of the Melsonby Hoard, which has been valued at £254,000 by a coroner’s court, and the Yorkshire Museum is seeking funds to secure and conserve the treasures for public display, as the campaign to raise the funds ends on May 25, 2025.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Amateur metal detector uncovers massive Iron Age treasure hoard
A metal detector hobbyist’s find has yielded one of the UK’s largest and most expansive troves of Iron Age artifacts. After years of excavation work following its 2021 discovery, the Melsonby Hoard (named after a nearby village) is believed to contain over 800 objects dating back at least 2,000 years. Interestingly, many of the relics aren’t everyday items. According to researchers at Durham University, the collection suggests the presence of a …
The Northern Echo
darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.ukCampaign launched to save the Iron Age Melsonby Hoard for the nation - and Yorkshire
A £500,000 appeal was launched yesterday to save the “Melsonby Hoard” for the nation – and for Yorkshire.
The discovery of an archaeological treasure dating back 2,000 years could change the history of the United Kingdom
The discovery took place in 2021 by a "detectorist", a person who practices the detection of metals. In total, more than 800 objects are discovered in what is "one of the largest and most important discoveries of the Iron Age in the United Kingdom".
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