Mysteries of British History: An Iron Age Treasure Trove From North Yorkshire

A recent archaeological find in North Yorkshire, one of the largest Iron Age hoards, has huge potential to change perceptions of British history and life in the British Isles over two thousand years ago.

More than 800 artifacts have been found in a field near the village of Melsonby that date back to the first century AD, the time of the Roman invasion of Britain under Emperor Claudius. The finds are probably related to the Brigantes tribe, which controlled much of northern England in the Iron Age. These objects provide a unique insight into tribal life in the north, their culture, trade and social structure, about which very little was previously known.

Among the items found were many valuable artifacts such as wagon and chariot parts, including 28 iron wheels, harness parts for 14 horses, bridles, ceremonial spears, and two beautifully decorated cauldrons.

One of these cauldrons may have been used for mixing wine, an important cultural marker indicating the high status of its owners and their connections to the Roman world. The cauldrons were quite elaborate and decorative, also indicating the sophistication and wealth of the people to whom they belonged.

Archaeologists and historians who have studied these finds believe they may change perceptions of wealth, social status, trade relations and travel among Iron Age British tribes. These artifacts offer a unique perspective on Britain during a period when the island was undergoing significant changes due to the Roman conquest.

The treasure itself was found by metal detectorist Peter Heads on Christmas Eve 2021. Heads detected the signal, dug a hole, and soon realized that expert help was needed for further excavation. He approached Professor Tom Moore, Head of the Department of Archaeology at Durham University, who was conducting research in the region.

Professor Moore realized the significance of the find from the very first minute, but even he could not have expected such a scale. He noted that finding a treasure trove of 10 artifacts is already an extremely rare event, but finding something so large is absolutely unique.

In 2022, with the help of ?120,000 funding from Historic England, an archaeological excavation was started at the findspot. The work recovered a large block of tangled metal objects that appeared to have been contained in a single bag or container.

These finds proved to be extremely valuable, as they not only provide insight into the cultural life of those times, but also testify to the high level of craftsmanship and aesthetics of the time.

Horse harnesses decorated with coral and colored glass attracted particular attention. Moore emphasized that such harnesses were most likely used for showy events or important ceremonies, and indicated the high status of their owners in the social hierarchy of Iron Age tribes.

This discovery challenges the old hypothesis that the north of Britain was a poor region compared to the more developed southern parts of the country. The findings show that northern tribes had the same wealth, high quality materials and social status as their southern tribesmen. These findings also allow us to reconsider the importance of trade, interaction, and cultural exchange between different regions of Britain and its neighbors in Europe.

Keith Emerick, Inspector of Ancient Monuments at Historic England, said the decision to fund the excavation was made very quickly because the scale of the find and its content was unprecedented in UK archaeological practice. Emerick noted that such discoveries always raise new questions for researchers, and the artifacts found open a number of directions for future research.

Moore also suggested that many of the items found may have belonged to high-ranking individuals who may have been part of an elite network that spanned not only Britain, but also other parts of Europe and the Roman world. Interestingly, many of these objects were burned, which may suggest a connection to the funerary rites performed for members of the elite at the time.

These wagons were probably borrowed from continental Europe, confirming cultural and technological links between different parts of the ancient world. The treasure from Melsonby was valued at ?254,000.

Now Yorkshire Museum in York is planning to launch a fundraising campaign to preserve these unique finds for future generations and ensure they are available for research and public viewing. The discovery of the hoard was officially announced in conjunction with Historic England, Durham University and the British Museum.

Heritage Minister Chris Bryant emphasized that the find is extraordinarily important and will help to better understand not only the history of Britain, but also the wider processes that took place in Europe during the Iron Age.

Emerick added that the discovery of the Melsonby hoard raises many interesting questions for archaeologists, including those concerning the influence of the Roman Empire influence on Britain, as it is known that Roman expeditions led by Julius Caesar had already been carried out in Britain a century before the conquest by Claudius.