A metal detectorist searching farmland in Northern England has uncovered a rare collection of Iron Age artifacts, believed to be around 2,000 years old. The discovery, now known as the Melsonby Hoard, includes more than 800 items and is considered one of the largest finds of its kind in Britain—and possibly in Europe.
Peter Heads, a hobbyist metal detectorist, discovered the hoard in December 2021 after obtaining permission to search a private field near the village of Melsonby in North Yorkshire. Following the discovery, he contacted Durham University archaeologist Tom Moore, who led the excavation along with researchers from the British Museum and local authorities.
“Its decoration combines both Mediterranean and British Iron Age styles,” Moore said in a video released by Durham University.
Artifacts reveal ritual objects and unusual design
The hoard includes a large cooking pot, a bowl for mixing drinks, horse harness fittings, wagon parts, a large iron mirror, and decorative iron spears likely used in rituals. One bowl stood out to researchers due to its unusual design.
Moore said the bowl is rare for northern Britain, which features a blend of Mediterranean and British Iron Age styles. This mixture suggests the original owner had wide connections, possibly across Britain, reaching Europe, and even the rest of the Roman world.
In December 2021, metal detectorist Peter Heads stumbled upon a massive collection of over 800 Iron Age artifacts near Melsonby, North Yorkshire, now called the Melsonby Hoard.
Excavated in 2022 by Durham University archaeologists with help from the British Museum and Historic… pic.twitter.com/4nifDUGirD
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During the excavation, researchers uncovered two separate deposits. One was much larger than expected, with a scale and complexity rarely seen in British archaeology. The team removed a large block of earth containing the artifacts and used CT scanning to create a digital 3D model before carefully analyzing these items to protect them.
Fire, destruction, and clues of long-distance trade
The scan revealed that many objects made from iron and copper alloys were burned or broken. Experts believe the items may have been placed on a large fire, possibly a funeral pyre, although no human remains were found at the site.
Sophia Adams, curator of the European Iron Age at the British Museum, said the working theory is that the items were intentionally burned and then discarded in a ditch, where stones were thrown on top. Some objects appear to have been damaged even further after the fire.
Despite the damage, many items remain well-preserved. Some horse harnesses are decorated with Mediterranean red coral and colored glass, indicating long-distance trade and access to luxury goods.
Moore said the deliberate destruction of such high-status items is rare and highlights the power and wealth of northern Britain’s Iron Age communities. He explained it showed that the elites in the north were just as influential as those in the south.