Iron Age hoard finds permanent home at museum

The Melsonby Hoard is believed to be one of the UK's largest Iron Age finds

A collection of more than 800 Iron Age artefacts found in a North Yorkshire field has now found a permanent home.

The Melsonby Hoard is believed to be one of the UK's largest finds from the period, and was discovered by metal detectorist Peter Heads and excavated with the help of Durham University.

The Yorkshire Museum has now secured the acquisition of the hoard, through public fundraising and a £192,096 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Dr Andrew Woods, head of research and collections at York Museums Trust, said the discovery went beyond "a once in a generation find".

"The museum has been collecting for 200 years and we have nothing like this, nothing like this has quite been found in the UK before," he said.

"So to be able to put that into the collection, to share that with people, to tell new stories is one of the best days of my career."

The initial discovery was reported to the authorities in December 2021 and site excavation started the following year, with the support of the British Museum and a grant from Historic England.

Amongst the findings, archaeologists from Durham University unearthed the partial remains of more than seven wagons and chariots, along with horse harnesses and ceremonial spears.

The items are believed to have been buried about 2,000 years ago

Earlier this year, after preservation and study at Durham University, the Yorkshire Museum launched a fundraising campaign to secure the hoard for its collections.

Dr Woods added he was "blown away" by the public response to the online fundraiser, which raised £54,000 in donations from the public, bolstered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and £20,000 in other donations.

Kathryn Blacker, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said the museum was delighted at the opportunity to secure the future of "a significant piece of Yorkshire's history".

"Thanks to the incredible support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, as well as generous donations from members of the public, the hoard will remain here in Yorkshire, to be made available for everyone to see and to enjoy," she said.

"We remain committed to researching and conserving these unprecedented finds to improve our understanding of our shared past and securing them for future generations."

The partial remains of more than seven wagons and chariots, along with horse harnesses and ceremonial spears were found in the hoard

Dr Woods explained that the acquisition was only "the beginning of the story" for the artefacts.

"Keeping the hoard close to where it was found, in the region, alongside other objects in the collection also from the Iron Age means we can tell the story of the North," he said.

He added that after further preservation and research projects, the hoard would be publicly displayed in the museum.

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