Melsonby hoard from Iron Age found by detectorist in UK

Archaeologist, Tom Moore, says 800-item hoard is a "once-in-a-lifetime discovery"

By Web Desk
March 27, 2025
A mask-like decorative human face found as part of the Melsonby hoard of Iron Age artefacts. — Durham University/File
A mask-like decorative human face found as part of the Melsonby hoard of Iron Age artefacts. — Durham University/File

The Melsonby hoard containing more than 800 artefacts was discovered by metal detectorist, Peter Heads, in 2021 in two ditchesnear North Yorkshire village of the same name.

Heads reported the detection to the authorities concerned and the head of archaeology at Durham University, professor Tom Moore, was called to the location, according to Sky News.

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Moore said it was quickly clear that the finding was a "once-in-a-lifetime discovery".

The archaeologist said the discovery of the Melsonby hoard is of a scale and size that is exceptional for Britain and probably even Europe.

Researchers looking at the newly discovered Iron Age hoard.—Durham University/File
Researchers looking at the newly discovered Iron Age hoard.—Durham University/File

"Unusually it includes lots of pieces of vehicles and items such as the wine mixing bowl which is decorated in both Mediterranean and Iron Age styles.

"Whoever originally owned the material in this hoard was probably a part of a network of elites across Britain, into Europe and even the Roman world."

Among the hoard, partial remains of wagons, ceremonial spears and pony harnesses were also found.

Intentionally bent out of shape iron tyres were also found with the material ritualistically burnt or maybe broken.

Harness pieces decorated with Mediterranean coral and coloured glass found in hoard. — Durham University/File

"The destruction of so many high-status objects, evident in this hoard, is also of a scale rarely seen in Iron Age Britain and demonstrates that the elites of northern Britain were just as powerful as their southern counterparts," added the professor.

Harnesses of at least 14 peonies, three ceremonial spears and two ornate cauldrons or vessels, one lidded and likely used as a wine mixing bowl, were also found among the hoard.

The harness pieces discovered were decorated with Mediterranean coral and coloured glass and were larger than ones typically found in Britain.

Some of the excavated items look like those previously found in the UK while others appear to match those discovered in Europe.

"It has connections to continental Europe and the Roman Empire," he said. "It shows they are of the same status, if not more powerful than the elites in southern Britain."

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