The Melsonby Hoard

The Melsonby Hoard is a highly significant discovery of Iron Age metalwork from nearly 2,000 years ago, discovered in late December 2021 by metal detectorist Peter Heads in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire. In collaboration with the British Museum and Historic England, Durham University’s Department of Archaeology and Archaeological Services team excavated the site and oversaw the preservation of the artefacts discovered there which included iron tyres, horse harness and vehicle fittings, spear heads and cauldrons.

This historically significant find contained items dating from around 1st Century BC – 1st Century AD relating to feasting, parade, display and warfare – and in a largely hitherto unknown quantity.

The hoard also offers clues about the nature of society in Britain during the late first century BC and first century AD and in particular challenges long-held views of the Iron Age of southern Britain being wealthier and more developed than that in the north. While most people in northern Britain at this time were farmers, the Melsonby Hoard emphasises that society included expert craftspeople and elites who could commission and obtain vast amounts of wealth and prestigious objects.

The workmanship, styles and sheer quantity of material included in this deposit reveals a community with significant wealth and power. They may have had connections across Europe – not something usually associated with northern Britain in the Iron Age.

See more about the Melsonby Hoard here