Latest news with #Brigantes
BBC News
30-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Melsonby Hoard: Iron Age 'bling' shows wealth of northern tribes
A hoard of Iron Age "bling" unearthed in North Yorkshire was a "garish" display of wealth from tribes more powerful than previously thought, an archaeologist has Adam Parker from the Yorkshire Museum said the ornate decorations on artefacts found in the Melsonby Hoard, including Mediterranean coral, suggested international said the hoard, which was discovered in a field outside Melsonby by metal detectorist Peter Heads, showed the people who buried it "had a lot more clout than we thought they did"."It just bumps up the power and prestige of these tribal groups in North Yorkshire and it makes them even more glamorous," he said. Speaking about some of the artefacts uncovered, Dr Parker said: "These are really fancy Iron Age chariots."These are absolute bling - they are garish."It's a show and display of wealth."Historians believe the Melsonby Hoard to be one of the largest and most important Iron Age finds in the UK, which could lead to a "major re-evaluation" of the wealth and status of the elite living in northern Britain at the Emerick from English Heritage said the hoard "isn't just nationally important - it's internationally important".The metal detectorist who discovered the hoard declined to be interviewed, a spokesperson for Durham University told the BBC. What is the Melsonby Hoard? The Melsonby Hoard, which was excavated with the help of Durham University, includes more than 800 items believed to have been buried about 2,000 years the hoard are the partial remains of more than seven wagons and chariots, along with two cauldrons or vessels, horse harnesses, bridle bits and ceremonial Parker said the "fancy horse harnesses" found in the hoard would have been "really bright and brassy with blue glass beads and coral" and they were "meant to be garish" as a display of wealth."We are blown away with the amount of coral in this hoard," he Parker explained that the burial of these valuable items, many of which had been broken or burnt beforehand, was "like an act of worship to somebody quite powerful like a deity". Mr Emerick said one of the two cauldrons discovered, which is decorated in both Mediterranean and Iron Age styles, was thought to be a wine mixer."We have some material from other chariot burials but nothing of the quality we have got here," he said.A selection of horse-related objects from the hoard went on display at the Yorkshire Museum in York on 25 March and will remain there for 10 weeks. Tribal queen 'staved off Roman invasion' The site where the Melsonby Hoard was discovered is close to what was the largest Iron Age hill fort in the north of England, at fort, located near Richmond, was then the royal capital of Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes Stanwick Hoard, uncovered there in 1845 and comprising 140 metal artefacts including a bronze horse head mask, could be related to the Melsonby Hoard, Mr Emerick Brigantes, meaning hill people, was a name given by the Romans to those who occupied much of what would become northern who ruled from around AD 43, was the first documented queen to reign in part of the British Isles, English Heritage and her husband Venutius formed an alliance with the Romans, thereby staving off an invasion during the early years of the Roman divorced, however, and Venutius, who had anti-Roman supporters, capitalised on Roman instability in AD 69 to become king. The Roman invasion of the north then began. What is the Melsonby Hoard worth? The hoard, which is legally categorised as treasure, has been valued at £254, will be sold and the proceeds will be split between the landowner and the metal detectorist who unearthed Yorkshire Museum has first refusal on the hoard and has launched a Parker said the team had around three months in which to raise the £500,000 required for the purchase and to cover the cost of conservation work. What other Iron Age sites have been found in Yorkshire? A number of Iron Age sites have been discovered in the European Iron Age began around 800 BC and ran until the Roman conquest, which was the year AD 43 in people lived on farms or in small villages in homes called roundhouses, but others stayed in larger settlements such as the hill fort in craftsmen used advanced techniques to make highly decorated metal objects like the chariots found in Melsonby. Another Iron Age site involving a chariot and horse burials was discovered on a housing development around Pocklington in 2014. Archaeologists also discovered around 75 graves, including the remains of a "young warrior", as well as swords, spears and shields.A large chariot burial site was found in Wetwang in the Wolds of East Yorkshire, with a number of excavations carried out there between the 1960s and Age settlements were also discovered in Aldborough, near Boroughbridge and in Foston, near York, which was partially excavated in the 1980s. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Huge Iron Age hoard could alter understanding of ancient elites
A huge Iron Age hoard discovered in a Yorkshire field by a metal detectorist could lead to a revaluation of the wealth and status of the elite living in northern Britain 2,000 years ago, an archaeologist has said. The Melsonby Hoard, which lay untouched in two ditches near the North Yorkshire village of that name since the middle of the 1st century, comprises more than 800 items including partial remains of wagons, ceremonial spears and pony harnesses. Experts say the discovery, made in 2021 by detectorist Peter Heads who reported the location to the proper authorities, could be one of the most important ever found in the UK, and will need careful study for years. Previously, some have thought power and wealth in pre-Roman times were limited to the south of present-day England, but the extent of the hoard which was deliberately thrown away in muck shows that was not true. Professor Tom Moore, head of archaeology at Durham University, was called to the site and it quickly became clear to him that this was a 'once-in-a-lifetime discovery'. Vehicle components, for which it is hard to find parallels in Britain, include the partial remains of more than seven four-wheeled wagons or two-wheeled chariots. There were elaborate harnesses for at least 14 ponies, three ceremonial spears and two ornate cauldrons or vessels – one lidded and likely used as a wine mixing bowl. Some harness pieces were adorned with Mediterranean coral and coloured glass, and are larger than ones typically found here. While some items look like those previously found in Britain, others better match those already discovered on the continent, which suggests whoever left them had long-distance connections. Iron tyres, which were fitted to the outside of wooden wheels, had been intentionally bent out of shape and a large amount of the material had been ritualistically burnt or broken – rather than just smashed. Prof Moore, who said research was at a very early stage, believed this might have been a symbolic process of people showing how wealthy and powerful they were. Although no human remains have been found, it was possible they could have been buried after being burnt on a funerary pyre. Melsonby is around a mile from Stanwick, the powerbase of the Brigantes tribe who in pre-Roman times controlled a large part of what is now Yorkshire. Prof Moore said: 'The Melsonby Hoard is of a scale and size that is exceptional for Britain and probably even Europe. 'Unusually it includes lots of pieces of vehicles and items such as the wine mixing bowl which is decorated in both Mediterranean and Iron Age styles. 'Whoever originally owned the material in this hoard was probably a part of a network of elites across Britain, into Europe and even the Roman world. 'The destruction of so many high-status objects, evident in this hoard, is also of a scale rarely seen in Iron Age Britain and demonstrates that the elites of northern Britain were just as powerful as their southern counterparts.' He added: 'Whoever is doing this is incredibly wealthy and it challenges the idea that northern Britain was a backwater, when it clearly was not. 'It has connections to continental Europe and the Roman Empire. 'It shows they are of the same status, if not more powerful than the elites in southern Britain.' Prof Moore praised Mr Heads, who has declined publicity, for his responsible actions in contacting the authorities after his discovery. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'Quite simply, this is one of the most important and exciting Iron Age period discoveries made in the UK. 'It sheds new light on Iron Age life in the north and Britain, but it also demonstrates connections with Europe.' Dr Sophia Adams, an expert on the era at the British Museum, said: 'This is the largest single deposit of horse harness and vehicle parts excavated in Britain. 'It is significant not just for the quantity of objects buried together 2,000 years ago but also the quality and range of items.' Heritage minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 'The Melsonby Hoard is an extraordinary find, made up of a variety of unique and fascinating objects dating back to Iron Age Britain, which will help us to better understand the fabric of our nation's history.' One ditch was carefully examined on site while another was extracted as a whole and that has been X-rayed using a large scanner at Southampton University. It will be kept intact, as a block, to preserve what is inside. The dig was backed by a £120,000 grant from Historic England. The Yorkshire Museum is launching a fundraising campaign to secure the hoard for the nation. The value of the hoard has been calculated to be £254,000. A selection of the items is going on show at the museum in York.
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Iron age hoard found in North Yorkshire could change Britain's history
One of the biggest and most important iron age hoards ever found in the UK has been revealed, potentially altering our understanding of life in Britain 2,000 years ago. More than 800 objects were unearthed in a field near the village of Melsonby, North Yorkshire. They date back to the first century, around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain under Emperor Claudius, and are almost certainly associated with a tribe called the Brigantes who controlled most of northern England. The objects include parts from wagons and/or chariots including 28 iron tyres, elaborate harnesses for at least 14 horses, bridle bits, ceremonial spears and two beautifully ornate cauldrons, one of which was probably used as a wine mixing bowl. Experts involved in the find, described as internationally important, say the objects may lead to a reassessment of how we understand subjects such as wealth, status, trade and travel among Britain's iron age tribes. The hoard was discovered and reported just before Christmas 2021 by a metal detectorist, Peter Heads, who got a reading, dug a hole and realised he needed expert help. He contacted Prof Tom Moore, the head of archaeology at Durham University, who had been conducting research in the area. Moore saw right away the potential significance of what had been uncovered but had no idea it would be of such a jaw-dropping scale. 'Finding a hoard or collection of 10 objects is unusual, it's exciting, but finding something of this scale is just unprecedented,' he said. 'We were not expecting it … I think for everybody on the team, we were just lost for words.' After securing £120,000 funding from Historic England, excavations took place in 2022, including the removal of one large block of tangled metal objects that may have been in a bag together. Moore said the horse harnesses pulling the wagons or chariots were beautifully decorated with coral and coloured glass and, with the vehicles, would have been quite a sight. 'They would have looked incredible,' he said. 'It just emphasises that these people had real status and real wealth. 'Some people have regarded the north as being impoverished compared to the iron age of the south of Britain. This shows that individuals there had the same quality of materials and wealth and status and networks as people in the south. 'They challenge our way of thinking and show the north is definitely not a backwater in the iron age. It is just as interconnected, powerful and wealthy as iron age communities in the south.' Keith Emerick, an inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said the decision to provide funding was agreed the same day Moore contacted him. 'The scale of the find and the material in it is completely unparalleled in this country,' he said. 'To have something like this from the north of England is really exceptional.' He recalled seeing the objects laid out at Durham. 'It was one of those wow moments really, just to see how rich and splendid and mind-bogglingly beautiful some of it is. It has been a once-in-a-lifetime find for everyone involved.' Moore said the working assumption was that the high-status objects belonged to someone who was 'probably part of a network of elites across Britain, into Europe and even the Roman world'. A lot of the material had been burned, suggesting it may have been part of a funerary pyre for an elite person before being thrown in a ditch. Moore said one of the most exciting parts of the discovery was the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons used by iron age tribes in Britain, possibly imitating vehicles seen in continental Europe. He said: 'We're going to have spend years thinking what did these vehicles look like, where did they come from?' The Melsonby hoard has been valued at £254,000 and a fundraising campaign to secure it for the nation will be launched by the Yorkshire Museum in York. Its discovery was announced jointly by Historic England, Durham University and the British Museum. The heritage minister, Chris Bryant, said the hoard was an extraordinary find 'which will help us to better understand the fabric of our nation's history'. Emerick said the find posed lots of interesting questions. Julius Caesar led the first Roman expeditions to Britain a century before Claudius's invasion and the Brigantes would have known about them. 'You kind of look at this material and ask is this people thinking about the end of something, or are they thinking about the beginning of something?'
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Secrets of Britain's ancient elites revealed by remarkable find in Yorkshire field
A remarkable Iron Age hoard, unearthed in a Yorkshire field, is prompting archaeologists to reassess the wealth and power dynamics of northern Britain two millennia ago. The discovery, dubbed the Melsonby Hoard, contains more than 800 items, including remnants of wagons, ceremonial spears, and pony harnesses, offering a glimpse into the lives of the elite in the 1st century AD. Unearthed in 2021 near the village of Melsonby, North Yorkshire, by metal detectorist Peter Heads, the hoard lay undisturbed in two ditches. Its sheer scale and the nature of the artefacts suggest a deliberate disposal, a practice laden with symbolic meaning for the people of that era. Experts believe the Melsonby Hoard could be one of the UK's most significant archaeological finds, requiring years of meticulous study. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the distribution of wealth and power in pre-Roman Britain. While some believed such opulence was confined to the south, the Melsonby Hoard's richness indicates a more complex reality. Professor Tom Moore, head of archaeology at Durham University, described the find as a "once-in-a-lifetime discovery". Among the hoard's treasures are the partial remains of more than seven four-wheeled wagons or two-wheeled chariots, artifacts rarely found in Britain. Elaborate harnesses for at least 14 ponies, three ceremonial spears, and two ornate cauldrons or vessels, including one likely used for mixing wine, further underscore the hoard's significance. These items paint a vivid picture of a sophisticated society with access to resources and craftsmanship. Some harness pieces were adorned with Mediterranean coral and coloured glass. While some items look like those previously found in Britain, others better match those already discovered on the continent, which suggests whoever left them had long-distance connections. Iron tyres, which were fitted to the outside of wooden wheels, had been intentionally bent out of shape and a large amount of the material had been ritualistically burnt or broken – rather than just smashed. Professor Moore, who said research was at a very early stage, believed this might have been a symbolic process of people showing how wealthy and powerful they were. Although no human remains have been found, it was possible they could have been buried after being burnt on a funerary pyre. Melsonby is around a mile from Stanwick, the powerbase of the Brigantes tribe who in pre-Roman times controlled a large part of what is now Yorkshire. 'The Melsonby Hoard is of a scale and size that is exceptional for Britain and probably even Europe,' Professor Moore said. 'Unusually it includes lots of pieces of vehicles and items such as the wine mixing bowl which is decorated in both Mediterranean and Iron Age styles. 'Whoever originally owned the material in this hoard was probably a part of a network of elites across Britain, into Europe and even the Roman world. 'The destruction of so many high-status objects, evident in this hoard, is also of a scale rarely seen in Iron Age Britain and demonstrates that the elites of northern Britain were just as powerful as their southern counterparts.' He added: 'Whoever is doing this is incredibly wealthy and it challenges the idea that northern Britain was a backwater, when it clearly was not. 'It has connections to continental Europe and the Roman Empire. 'It shows they are of the same status, if not more powerful than the elites in southern Britain.' Professor Moore praised Mr Heads, who has declined publicity, for his responsible actions in contacting the authorities after his discovery. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'Quite simply, this is one of the most important and exciting Iron Age period discoveries made in the UK. 'It sheds new light on Iron Age life in the north and Britain, but it also demonstrates connections with Europe.' Dr Sophia Adams, an expert on the era at the British Museum, said: 'This is the largest single deposit of horse harness and vehicle parts excavated in Britain. 'It is significant not just for the quantity of objects buried together 2,000 years ago but also the quality and range of items.' One ditch was carefully examined on site while another was extracted as a whole and that has been X-rayed using a large scanner at Southampton University. It will be kept intact, as a block, to preserve what is inside. The dig was backed by a £120,000 grant from Historic England. The Yorkshire Museum is launching a fundraising campaign to secure the hoard for the nation. The value of the hoard has been calculated to be £254,000. A selection of the items is going on show at the museum in York.
The Guardian
25-02-2025
- The Guardian
Country diary: This spring gives so much life, today we give something back
It seems to be precisely when February's sleet and muck threaten to become unbearable that the aeons-old conversation between celestial and terrestrial turns to growth and greening. We're now past the pagan quarter festival of Imbolc, which honours a goddess of many guises. Of particular relevance here, in the iron age territory of the Brigantes, she was Brigantia. Of her other guises, the foremost was the Celtic Brighid, goddess of springs, of healing and farming, or poetry wisdom and smithing – the stuff of creation. We pay a family visit to Lady's Spring Wood in nearby Malton, named for the water that rises alongside the Yorkshire Derwent. Small channels spill in braided rivulets, their clarity a startling contrast to the murky flow of the river. It's a place that is triple blessed, by topography, geology and hydrology, with elevated ground for security, river clay for pottery, a floodplain for farming, and before that for hunting and gathering, the river for transit and, principally, the springs for life. There's no doubt that the springs' situation so close to a natural fording place is the reason the town exists. There was once a castle here, and before that a Roman fort, Derventio Brigantum, named for the river, the people and the goddess whose land they occupied. So here is a right and proper place to mark the season. The main spring has a substantial pool, its surface disrupted by the concentric ripples of several upwellings. You have to come early to find it clear enough to drink, as it's a favourite splash spot for local dogs. The joy in their games is undeniable, but I imagine a future where alternative provision for canine fun can be made nearby and the spring left in peace. Meanwhile, it's not going anywhere and there are other things we can do to honour it. Today, instead of leaving Imbolc offerings, we take stuff away: poo bags in a range of hues, drink bottles in the usual livery of strident azure (Lucozade Sport), carmine (Coke Zero) and imperial purple (Ribena), and crushed beer cans. It all seems recently discarded – we're not the only ones picking up. Call it love, community spirit, reverence, it's all much same, and a little goes a long way. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
