Rare treasures from a 2000-year-old Scottish warrior burial unveiled
A remarkable collection of Iron Age treasures unearthed alongside the remains of a young man buried nearly 2,000 years ago will fascinate audiences when it goes on public display for the first time.
The man, believed to be aged between 17 and 25, was found buried in a stone-lined chest at Marshill in Alloa. His burial, dated between 10-70 AD, was very rich in grave goods.
He was laid to rest with an iron sword, still in its leather sheath, carefully placed across his chest and a spear at his side. Other decorations included a bronze cloak pin, a glass beaded pendant, and bronze and iron rings from a belt. Surprisingly, two bronze toe rings indicate that he wore sandals, a clear indication of high social status at the time.
Experts believe the inclusion of weapons at his funeral may express his role as a warrior in life or reflect how his society wanted him to be perceived in the afterlife. Such Iron Age graves are extremely rare in Scotland, especially those containing weapons.
Matthew Knight, senior curator of prehistory at the National Museums of Scotland, said: “The remarkable objects from the Marshill tomb give us a vivid insight into the mentality of the prehistoric communities that lived in Scotland almost 2,000 years ago. These valuable objects tell us that this young man was a strong member of his community. Following extensive research and conservation, I am thrilled that visitors will have the opportunity to see these objects for the first time in Scotland’s First Warriors.”
The items were first uncovered by archaeologist Susan Mills during a routine excavation of two chests in 2003. They have since been subjected to extensive research and conservation by experts at the National Museums Collection Center in Edinburgh and are on loan from the Treasury Department for the exhibition.
These important finds will be the centerpiece of the “Scotland’s First Warriors” exhibition, which opens this Saturday at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The free exhibition, which runs until May 16 next year, will explore the origins of organized conflict, exploring how people fought, their motivations, the impact of war on lives and the enduring legacy of prehistoric warfare.
Replicas of the spearhead and sword made by Ratho Byres Forge and Alan Braby will be displayed alongside the originals to show off their former lustrous appearance.
The exhibition will also feature other previously unseen items, including internationally important archaeological discoveries from across Scotland, such as the Carnoustie Hoard.
