The Melsonby Hoard has been nominated for a national award by one of the UK’s leading archaeological publications.
The project, unearthed by experts in our Department of Archaeology, including our Archaeological Services team, is one of eight projects nominated in Current Archaeology’s Rescue Project of the Year 2026.
Voting is open to the public. Visit Current Archaeology’s website to cast your vote.
The Melsonby Hoard was found by metal detectorist Peter Heads in 2021 near the village of Melsonby, North Yorkshire, northern England.
We excavated, stabilised, recorded and researched the find in collaboration with The British Museum as part of a legal Treasure case.
The hoard, made public in March 2025, is one of the UK’s largest and most important Iron Age finds.
It includes over 800 items, among them chariot wheels, cauldrons, horse bridles and ceremonial spears, which are about 2,000 years old.
The quantity and variety of objects are unusual and have important implications for reassessing our understanding of Iron Age life in Britain.
This project continues to be supported by funding from the UK Government and Historic England.
Earlier this year a fundraising campaign led by The Yorkshire Museum was successful in securing the hoard’s future.
Further research, conservation and analytical work will now be carried out to learn more about the hoard and ensure its long-term preservation.
It will also become an important part of the Yorkshire Museum’s public programme, sharing the discovery with visitors.
Discover more about the Melsonby Hoard.
Our Department of Archaeology is ranked sixth in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 and fourth in the Complete University Guide 2026. Visit our Archaeology webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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