Historic England, the University of Durham and the British Museum have just revealed that 800 artefacts had been discovered in 2021 near the village of Melsonby, in the North Yorkshire. These artefacts date from the 1st century (iron age), at the time of the Roman conquest under the Emperor Claude, and are certainly linked to the Brigant tribe, which controlled most of the north of England. “This is one of the most important and exciting discoveries of the Iron Age made in the United Kingdom” said Duncan Wilson, director of Historic England.
The treasure estimated at 254,000 pounds (300,000 euros) had been found by Peter Heads, a metal detector, who had immediately addressed Professor Tom Moore, director of the Archeology Department of the University of Durham.
The excavations that followed in 2022, financed up to 120,000 pounds (143,000 euros) by Historic England, made it possible to uncover carriage pieces, including 28 iron tires, harnesses for at least 14 horses, straps, ceremony spears and two ornate boards, one was probably used as a bowl to mix the wine.
Copper harness found during excavations.
© Durham University
This discovery offers new lighting on life at the Iron Age in the north of Great Britain, and proves, in particular by the richness of the ornamentation of the objects found that the region was prosperous and dialoguated with continental Europe. It was so far admitted to archaeologists that the north was an isolated place at the Iron Age, less rich than the south of Great Britain. These objects probably belonged to an individual “Part of a privileged class through Great Britain, Europe and even the Roman world” said Tom Moore.
Some artifacts, burned, could be associated with a funeral ritual, although no human remains have been found. The first time discovery of four-wheeled carts dating from the Iron Age in Great Britain also suggests a continental influence, because similar models have been found in Germany and France among others.
The Treasury is currently kept in Yorkshire Museum which has launched a fundraising campaign to perpetuate its conservation. A selection of objects has been exhibited at Yorkshire Museum since March 25, 2025.
