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The Melsonby hoard is a remarkable collection of more than 800 iron-age metal artefacts, which was found in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire, in December 2021.
Its discovery represents a triumph of cross-sector collaboration in British archaeology. This extraordinary find excavated from Yorkshire soil is not just a collection of ancient objects, but signals a need for a significant revision of how we understand iron-age Britain.
The presence of materials imported from the Mediterranean, and a type of continental European wagon new to Britain, challenges the idea that iron-age Britons were isolated. Instead, it tell us that “wealthy” iron-age people in northern England had contacts extending out across Europe.
This 2022 excavation, supported by a £120,000 grant from Historic England and expertise from the British Museum, revealed more than 800 items dating to the first century BC – around the time of the Roman conquest under Emperor Claudius. The objects are almost certainly associated with the Brigantes tribe who dominated northern England during this period.
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The scale of this discovery sets it apart from typical iron-age finds. The hoard includes partial remains of at least seven four-wheeled wagons and/or two-wheeled chariots, harnesses for at least 14 horses, 28 iron tyres (many deliberately bent), three ceremonial spears and two ornate cauldrons.
In iron-age Britain, communities regularly placed metalwork in rivers and bogs to mark significant life events, including death. The Thames has yielded deliberately deposited human skulls alongside weapons and metal objects. The Melsonby hoard can be seen as a land-based equivalent of these water deposits.
One of the most significant aspects of this discovery is the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons used by iron-age British tribes, possibly imitating vehicles seen in continental Europe. This finding suggests that northern Britain was far from isolated, instead participating in widespread networks spanning Europe to the Mediterranean.
The craftsmanship displayed in the hoard as whole is exceptional. Some horse harnesses feature Mediterranean coral and coloured glass, showcasing the distinctive curving patterns typical of Celtic Art. One cauldron, likely used for mixing wine, combines Mediterranean and iron age artistic styles – concrete evidence of cultural exchange between Britain and continental Europe.
Particularly intriguing is evidence that many items were deliberately burned or broken before burial. This practice of ritually “killing” valuable objects has deep roots in British prehistory, stretching back to the bronze age. By destroying such items, iron age elites may have been demonstrating their wealth and status through conspicuous consumption.
However, the burning might also relate to funerary practices in some way. Though no human remains were found, the objects could have been burned on a funeral pyre in a cremation ritual. This places the Melsonby hoard in an interesting position between traditional archaeological categories. It is part “hoard” (a deliberate deposit of objects) and part “grave goods” (items placed with the dead).
This dual nature isn’t without precedent. Chariot burials are well-documented in iron-age Yorkshire, while collections of horse equipment appear in other discovered hoards. The Melsonby find might represent a combination of these traditions.
However, we wouldn’t know about any of this if it hadn’t been for the decision of metal detectorist Peter Heads to resist unearthing the hoard himself.
On making the discovery in December 2021, Heads immediately contacted archaeologists at Durham University, setting in motion a textbook example of proper archaeological practice. This allowed crucial contextual information that would have been lost forever had the site been disturbed without professional supervision.
The hoard’s objects were carefully identified using scanning technology at the University of Southampton, allowing archaeologists to excavate without causing damage. This meticulous approach will enable years of productive research into these artefacts.
Valued at £254,000, the Melsonby hoard is now the subject of a fundraising campaign by the Yorkshire Museum. A selection of objects is already on display, giving the public access to these remarkable artefacts.
As research continues on this extraordinary find, it stands as a powerful example of how proper archaeological practice – from responsible metal detecting to collaborative, well-funded excavation – can transform our understanding of Britain’s past.
The Melsonby hoard offers a unique window into iron-age life in Britain, challenging long-held historical assumptions about regional development and cultural sophistication.
Duncan Garrow does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
