Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

The Melsonby hoards: a window on the nature of power in Late Iron Age Yorkshire

Professor Tom Moore University of Durham 

A chance discovery by metal detectorist Peter Heads, in 2021 at Melsonby, North Yorkshire, led to the excavation of one of the largest hoards of Iron Age metalwork ever discovered in Britain. Including 28 iron tyres, a range of chariot and wagon parts, two copper-alloy vessels, horse harness for around 14 ponies, spears and many other items, these deposits surpass in quantity and quality any contemporary metalwork assemblage from Britain and Ireland. This lecture explores the nature of the Melsonby hoards and how these remains provide important new insights into the nature of power, display and identity in the Iron Age. The talk will discuss the possible hypotheses around why these massive acts of conspicuous consumption took place and how the hoards have the potential to transform our understanding of the nature of vehicles and forms of power and display in the Late Iron Age. The lecture emphasises the benefits of collaboration between the finder, archaeologists and museums, and is the result of collaboration between Durham University, The British Museum, Historic England and range of specialist researchers.

The Yorkshire Museum’s brand new exhibition, “Chariots, Treasure and Power: Secrets of the Melsonby Hoard”, is open Tuesday to Sundays until 2027.

7pm in the Tempest Anderson Lecture Theatre in the Yorkshire Museum on TUESDAY 24 November 2026.

YPS Members and students free, non members £5.