Detectorist Uncovers Second Bronze Age Hoard Near Peebles, Offering Rare Link to Earlier Treasure

A metal detectorist has unearthed a second significant collection of Bronze Age artefacts in the Scottish Borders, a discovery that experts believe may be closely connected to a previous find made in the same area just two years earlier.

Mariusz Stepien, who in 2020 discovered the celebrated Peebles Hoard, revealed that he had recovered the new assemblage in 2022 at a location approximately seven miles from his original find. The latest discovery has been named the Blyth Hoard and consists of objects dating from the Late Bronze Age, a period spanning roughly 1150BC to 850BC.

Among the items recovered are two bronze axe-heads and a complete copper ingot, which is described as the first of its kind to be found anywhere in Scotland. The hoard also contains clay moulds that archaeologists believe may have been used in the production of some of the unique bronze fittings associated with the nearby Peebles Hoard, suggesting a direct relationship between the two sites.

Excavation work carried out by archaeologists at the location of the Blyth Hoard also brought to light an ancient stone cairn, adding further archaeological context to the assemblage. The hoard has since been transported to the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh, where it will undergo conservation and detailed analysis.

The Peebles Hoard, discovered by Stepien in 2020, was saved for the nation in 2024 and is noted for containing a complete Bronze Age horse harness. Subsequent excavations at that site uncovered a sword still inside its scabbard, decorated straps, buckles, rings, ornaments, and caps from chariot wheel axles. The richness of that collection made it one of the most important Bronze Age finds in Scotland in recent decades.

Dr Matthew Knight, curator of prehistory and Bronze Age collections at National Museums Scotland, commented on the significance of the new discovery. He observed that the Blyth Hoard belongs to a category of archaeological finds that initially appears unremarkable but proves on closer inspection to be genuinely remarkable and capable of revealing multiple historical narratives.

Knight emphasised the rarity of the clay mould materials, noting that such objects seldom survive in the archaeological record. He explained that this alone would make the find noteworthy, but the close proximity and apparent relationship between the Blyth Hoard and the Peebles Hoard elevate its importance considerably.

One of the most promising avenues of research involves the complete copper ingot. Specialists hope that scientific analysis of the ingot may help determine the geographical origin of the metals used to produce the bronze objects found in both hoards. Such analysis could illuminate trade networks and metallurgical practices operating in Scotland during the Late Bronze Age.

Stepien said he was eager to learn what further research might reveal about both collections and about the people who created and deposited them. He recounted that when he first uncovered the Blyth Hoard, he was pleased simply to have encountered additional Bronze Age material in an area he already recognised as archaeologically rich.

At the time, he explained, he had no conception of how significant the discovery would ultimately prove to be. He added that having previously found the Peebles Hoard, it seemed quite extraordinary that two discoveries made so close together might be linked.

Under Scots law, archaeological finds made in Scotland must be reported to the Treasure Trove Unit, which is based at National Museums Scotland. The unit records and assesses each discovery, and significant finds may be claimed on behalf of the Crown by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer. Such items can then be allocated to museums through the Treasure Trove system, ensuring they are preserved and made available for public benefit.

The Blyth Hoard therefore enters a well-established legal and curatorial framework designed to protect Scotland's archaeological heritage. Its journey from a field in the Borders to a national conservation facility in Edinburgh reflects the process by which chance discoveries by members of the public can become part of the nation's permanent museum collections.

The connection between the two hoards is likely to be a central focus of future study. The presence of clay moulds at the Blyth site that may correspond to bronze fittings found at Peebles raises the possibility that the same community, or closely related groups, were producing and depositing metalwork in the immediate area during the Late Bronze Age.

Archaeologists are also expected to examine the stone cairn identified during excavation, as such structures can provide valuable information about ritual activity, burial practices, or landmark construction in the period. The combination of metalwork, manufacturing evidence, and monumental features makes the Blyth Hoard a potentially rich source of insight into life more than 2,500 years ago.

For Stepien, the discovery represents a rare double contribution to Scottish archaeology. His two finds, made within a few miles and a few years of each other, have together expanded understanding of Bronze Age activity in the Scottish Borders and created an unusual opportunity to study related assemblages as a single research problem.

As conservation and analysis proceed in Edinburgh, researchers will seek to determine the ingot's origins, clarify the relationship between the moulds and the Peebles bronzes, and place both hoards within the wider context of Late Bronze Age Scotland. The results could reshape interpretations of how metals circulated, how objects were made, and why communities chose to bury such wealth in the landscape.