Digital scanning of Melsonby Hoard to create 3D handling objects
Digital scanning of Melsonby Hoard to create 3D handling objects
As part of the effort to save the incredible Iron Age discovery, the Melsonby Hoard, the Yorkshire Museum recently welcomed Heritage360 from the University of York to undertake some 3D scanning of the hoard.
Unearthed in 2021 in North Yorkshire, the Melsonby Hoard is a once in a generation discovery of over 800 Iron Age objects and is the largest of its kind ever found in the UK. The objects include decorated horse-harness fittings, cauldron handles and other vessels some with imported luxury materials like coral and remarkable Mediterranean-style designs that hint at international connections from over two thousand years ago.
Heritage360, who specialise in the use of technology to conduct research and preserve heritage in digital formats, undertook the task of scanning the 13 objects currently on display at the Yorkshire Museum. James Osborn from Heritage360 explained “The technology allows for a complete 3D scan to be taken of the object and transferred onto computer software, where the digital model can be studied in more depth. These scans can also be used to create replicas of the objects which visitors can see and handle, allowing for up close analysis without disturbing the delicate materials that make up these incredible finds.” One of these replica objects will be available for handling on the 24 and 25 May as part of York’s Roman Festival.
Emily North, Curator of Archaeology at Yorkshire Museum said, “These scans are part of a wider initiative to conduct thorough research into the Melsonby Hoard, to better understand the objects, why they came to be buried, their material construction and how we can preserve them for the future. This is part of a larger campaign to raise the necessary funds for the Yorkshire Museum to acquire the hoard in its entirety before undertaking conservation.”
The crowdfunder stretch target has been raised to £70,000 as the deadline for securing the funds approaches. This campaign ends on 13 June 2025 and if the funds to secure the hoard are not raised, it could be lost forever; dispersed into private collections or even taken out of the UK.
York Museums Trust has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring the hoard home, conserve it, and put it on public display at the Yorkshire Museum. Here, it will be preserved and studied by experts, allowing York Museums Trust to unlock its secrets and share its story with the world. The 3D scans have already shown how rare and valuable these items are for researchers and York Museums Trust hopes to continue to share this knowledge with audiences once the hoard is acquired.
For more information about the Yorkshire Museum please contact:
Amy Cope
Public Relations Officer
Email: amy.cope@ymt.org.uk
Phone: 07761634646
About the Melsonby Hoard
In 2021 metal detectorists unearthed a vast array of Iron Age metalwork in Melsonby North Yorkshire. Over 800 objects were uncovered, including parts of vehicles such as chariots, weapons and cauldrons, as well as hundreds of individual items.
This is the largest hoard of Iron Age metalwork found in the UK. The site is located next to the hillfort at Stanwick, the royal capital of Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes tribe, and less than fifty miles from the Yorkshire Museum.
This hugely significant discovery is an archaeological time capsule from 2,000 years ago which was buried in the first century around the time of the Roman conquest of southern Britain. The quantity and variety of objects are highly unusual for the Iron Age. The hoard includes partial remains of more than seven wagons and chariots, elaborate harnesses for at least 14 horses, three ceremonial spears, two ornate cauldrons, an iron mirror and personal adornments. Similar objects found in Denmark and coral imported from the Mediterranean reveal a community with international connections.
A large amount of the material within the hoard was either burnt or broken at the time of burial, suggesting a symbolic process of people showing their wealth and power by destroying the objects.
Save the Melsonby Hoard | Yorkshire Museum
About the fundraising campaign
The Melsonby Hoard is a game-changing discovery, shedding new light on Iron Age Britain’s technological skill, artistry, trading links and society. But without urgent action, this treasure could be lost to private collections or dispersed beyond the UK.
The value of the hoard has been assessed at £254,000. Raising this amount would be enough to save the hoard from private sale, keeping it in a public museum where it will be available for research and public display. The objects are all 2,000 years old and require professional conservation to prevent deterioration of the fragile metalwork, enamel and coral. To protect the hoard into the future we need to raise an additional £250,000 for conservation, and so our goal is to raise £500,000.
About Eboracum Roman Festival 2025
Schools Week, 19 – 23 May 2025
Family festival, 24 – 31 May 2025
York Museums Trust is leading the charge of partners in the Festival, along with York Minster, York Archaeology, the University of York and York Civic Trust to bring a host of events and activities which shed light on the city’s Roman past. From online resources and learning activities for local primary schools, a living history encampment and an impressive parade through the streets, to a symposium and a lecture series featuring Professor Mary Beard, Peter Addyman, John Oxley and many others, the Roman Festival will have something for everyone.
Ecce, Romani! Eboracum Roman Festival set to return in May! | Yorkshire Museum
Yorkshire Museum Opening Times: Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
For more information on the Yorkshire Museum go to: www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk
About the Yorkshire Museum
Supported by Arts Council England
The Yorkshire Museum is home to some of Britain’s finest and most remarkable archaeological treasures from the region’s famous Roman, Viking and Medieval past. It also houses amazing artefacts from earlier periods from across Yorkshire, including those from Star Carr, as well as a nationally significant natural sciences collection.
Opened in 1830, by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, the museum was one of the earliest purpose-built museums in the country. It is located in botanic gardens which include the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, a powerhouse in Medieval York until the dissolution of the monasteries in King Henry VIII’s time.
Our collections which are on display today are shared with our communities across York and North Yorkshire and with the many thousands of people who visit and enjoy York each year.
