The Melsonby Hoard will go on display to the public later this year.
The internationally significant find was excavated by our Department of Archaeology, including our Archaeological Services team.
With over 800 objects - from chariot wheels and cauldrons to horse bridles and spears - it is one of the UK's largest and most important Iron Age finds.
The Yorkshire Museum, in York, UK, will run a first-look exhibition from Friday 15 May 2026 until the summer of 2027.
The exhibition will explore the significance of the discovery and share the story of the hoard so far.
It will also look at what this discovery confirms and challenges about our current understandings of late Iron Age Britain 2,000 years ago.
Excavated, stabilised, recorded and researched
The Melsonby Hoard was found by metal detectorist Peter Heads in 2021 near the village of Melsonby, North Yorkshire, northern England.
Our experts excavated, stabilised, recorded and researched the find in collaboration with The British Museum as part of a legal Treasure case.
This project continues to be supported by funding from the UK Government and Historic England.
Large-scale exhibition
In July 2025 the hoard was bought by the Yorkshire Museum following a successful fundraising campaign.
We are beyond excited to be able to put the Melsonby Hoard on display for the first time as a large-scale exhibition. We are grateful to Durham University, Historic England and The British Museum for their support and guidance, as well as the overwhelming generosity given across the fundraising campaign which allowed the Yorkshire Museum to acquire the hoard and put it on display.
