Wes Streeting vowed to fix ‘broken’ NHS but critics say he failed to deliver
Wes Streeting's NHS leadership praised for some progress but criticized for failing to address urgent issues.
The Guardian World1 min read
‘Magical’ objects from iron age hoard found in UK go on display
TL;DR
Iron Age objects from the Melsonby hoard, the largest of its kind in the UK, are now on display in York. These artifacts, linked to the Brigantes tribe, challenge previous perceptions of northern Britain's historical significance.
Key points
- Melsonby hoard is the largest Iron Age metalwork trove in the UK
- Exhibition challenges myths about northern Britain's historical significance
- Hoard includes over 800 items linked to the Brigantes tribe
- Artifacts were deliberately dismantled and burned before burial
- Display is located at the Yorkshire Museum in York
Mentioned in this story
Queen CartimanduaYorkEngland
Melsonby hoardBrigantes
Iron age objects that tell a dramatic story of female power and which dispel the myth that northern Britain was a left-behind backwater have gone on display for the first time.
The objects exhibited in York are from the Melsonby hoard, the largest trove of iron age metalwork ever found in the UK, which experts say could alter our understanding of life in Britain 2,000 years ago.
The hoard, which comprises more than 800 items, is almost certainly associated with a tribe called the Brigantes, who controlled most of what is now northern England and whose most famous leader was Queen Cartimandua.
There are fragments of chariots, bridle bits, weapons, a cauldron, a mysterious mirror and much more – all of them deliberately dismantled and burned before they were buried. It was a “crazy amount of effort and work”, said Yorkshire Museum’s senior curator, Glynn Davis.
The cauldron found in the hoard, which comprises more than 800 objects. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Guardian
The hoard was acquired by the museum after it raised more than £265,000, including £192,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
It is, everyone associated with the hoard believes, an unprecedented, once-in-a-generation find. Five years after its initial discovery by a metal detectorist, the public will now be able to see what all the fuss is about.
The big question is why the objects were buried: was it to mark an important feast or festival? Did the Brigantes capture treasures after a fight? Was it for the funeral of one of their most important people?
The exhibition asks the questions rather than answering them, although its lead curator, Emily North, points to one rare object going on display – a large, heavily corroded iron mirror.
“The mirror is my absolute favourite object,” North said. “It is spectacular and that’s not because of how it looks, because it doesn’t look like an awful lot at the moment.
Q&A
What is the Melsonby hoard and why is it significant?
The Melsonby hoard is the largest collection of Iron Age metalwork found in the UK, comprising over 800 items that could reshape our understanding of life in Britain 2,000 years ago.
What types of artifacts are included in the Melsonby hoard?
The hoard includes fragments of chariots, bridle bits, weapons, a cauldron, a mysterious mirror, and more, all of which were deliberately dismantled and burned before burial.
Who were the Brigantes and what role did they play in Iron Age Britain?
The Brigantes were a powerful tribe that controlled much of northern England, and their most notable leader was Queen Cartimandua.
Where can I see the Iron Age objects from the Melsonby hoard?
The Iron Age objects from the Melsonby hoard are on display at the Yorkshire Museum in York.
