A Trove of 800 Iron Age Objects Found in England

A trove of more than 800 Iron Age artifacts were discovered in a field near Melsonby in North Yorkshire, England.

A number of standout objects were among the finds including two cauldrons, three ceremonial spears, seven four-wheeled wagons or two-wheeled chariots, elaborate harnesses for at least 14 horses, bridle fragments, 28 iron tyres, and Mediterranean coral and colored glass.

One of the cauldrons, thought to have been used for mixing wine, was decorated in both Mediterranean and Iron Age styles. Buried about 2,000 years ago, examples such as these indicate that Iron Age residents of northern England were trading with the growing Roman Empire in Western Europe.

Metal detectorist Peter Heads uncovered what has been dubbed the Melonsby Hoard, which was subsequently excavated by Durham University. Authorities were tipped off in December 2021 and archaeologists began digging at the site in 2022, with the help of the British Museum and a £120,000 ($155,458) grant from Historic England. Scanning technology at the University of Southampton helped the team to excavate the many artifacts without damage.

Considered one of the “largest and most important” finds of its kind in the United Kingdom, it sheds new light on the wealth and status of elites living in Northern Britain—more than previously thought—as well as previously unknown trading connections with Europe.

“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,” Tom Moore, head of the department of archaeology at Durham University, said in a statement.

An early analysis released on Tuesday indicates that the items were purposefully destroyed before being buried. It is believed they may have been burned on a funerary pyre, however, no remains have been found.

“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,” Moore added.

The location of the site has not been announced due to concerns about looting.

A fundraising campaign was launched by the Yorkshire Museum in an effort to add the artifacts to its collection. Beginning today, a selection of objects from the trove will be on view to the public at the institution.