About the Melsonby Hoard

Donate today to help us conserve the Melsonby Hoard:  www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-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, announced today, 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 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.

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Help Save the Melsonby Hoard

Campaign update 

DATE: 29 July 2025 

We are delighted to announce that we’ve received £192,096 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund alongside support from public fundraising to acquire the Melsonby Hoard for future generations! 

Alongside this generous support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, £54,000 in donations from the public via the online crowdfunder and a further £20,000 in other donations, the purchase of the hoard has been secured for the Yorkshire Museum.  

This is only the beginning of the story, next the Yorkshire Museum will work in partnership to undertake a careful programme of conservation to reveal more of the hoard’s beauty and to keep it protected for future generations. We’ll be working in partnership to undertake detailed research into the objects, their context and their significance for understanding life in the Iron Age. 

We will be continuing our fundraising efforts to support these next steps for the hoard, and further conservation will be undertaken to stabilise objects and prepare them for display in the museum over the coming years. 

Donate today to help us conserve the Melsonby Hoard: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-the-melsonby-hoard