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This is a Bronze Age hoard that was found near Blyth Bridge in the Scottish Borders. It comprises two bronze axe-heads, a complete copper ingot – the first of its kind to be discovered in Scotland – and the remains of at least two, possibly three, clay moulds, which are sufficiently similar to some of the unique bronze fittings found in the Peebles Hoard, discovered just 11km (7 miles) away in 2020 (see CA 417 and 418), that they may have been used to manufacture these items.
The Blyth Hoard was discovered in 2022 by Mariusz Stepien, the same metal-detectorist who uncovered the Peebles Hoard. After finding one axehead and noticing more bronze objects in the ground, he immediately reported the discovery to the Treasure Trove Unit (TTU). Subsequent excavation of the site by the TTU and National Museums Scotland revealed the remainder of the hoard, as well as a stone cairn in which the objects appear to have been placed; all objects dated to the late Bronze Age, c.1150 800 BC.
Dr Matthew Knight, Curator at National Museums Scotland, said: ‘This is one of those classic archaeological finds that initially doesn’t look like much, but is actually really incredible and has many stories to tell. It’s really rare for mould materials to survive at all, so it’s a special find in its own right, but the proximity and relationship to the Peebles Hoard makes it all the more extraordinary. We must thank the finder who, just as he did with the Peebles Hoard, reported the find to the Treasure Trove Unit right away, which enabled us to better understand this important context and excavate the material swiftly and safely.’
A 3D model of the Blyth Hoard can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/y49n59c8. For further information about the hoard search for TTDB2025/0538 on the TTU website at https://treasuretrovescotland.co.uk/search.
The Treasure Trove Unit is an initiative based at National Museums Scotland to report archaeological objects found by members of the public in Scotland. For more information on the Unit, and to browse its database, visit www.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk. Information on this find was provided by Dr Matthew Knight, Curator of Prehistory, Bronze Age Collections, at National Museums Scotland.
Text: Kathryn Krakowka / Image: Stewart Attwood
