Exceptional, massive, significant, mysterious! Close-up on The Melsonby Iron Age Hoard
DR SOPHIA ADAMS, British Museum, tells the story of a remarkable find. In December 2021 a metal detectorist reported a possible in-situ deposit of Iron Age metalwork in a field in North Yorkshire. Investigation by Durham University and The British Museum, with support from Historic England, revealed an exceptional discovery. What at first appeared to be a small cluster of items turned out to be one of the largest hoards of Iron Age objects ever uncovered in Britain and Ireland. When the find was made public in 2025 the story quickly spread: from ‘The Northern Echo' to the ‘New York Times' to the ‘Sri Lankan Guardian' the discovery captivated audiences across the globe. Consisting of the ironwork from at least seven vehicles, ornate horse harness pieces, cauldrons, spears and more, this 2000-year-old deposit is astounding. In this presentation we will explore the deposit together, marvelling at the objects, peering through x-rays and discovering how these items were buried and how they are creating the opportunity to review past understandings in new light.