Detectorist Uncovers Second Bronze Age Hoard Miles From First Find in Scottish Borders

A metal detectorist has unearthed a second significant Bronze Age hoard in the Scottish Borders, just seven miles from where he made a comparable discovery several years earlier. Mariusz Stepien, who previously found the Peebles Hoard in 2020, made his latest find in 2022. The collection of 3,000-year-old artefacts has now been named the Blyth Hoard and is being examined by national experts.

The Blyth Hoard dates from the Late Bronze Age, a period spanning roughly 1150BC to 850BC. It includes two bronze axe-heads, clay moulds, and a complete copper ingot. Archaeologists believe the moulds may have been used to produce some of the distinctive bronze fittings found in the Peebles Hoard, suggesting a direct link between the two sites.

That connection is what makes the discovery particularly remarkable, according to curators at National Museums Scotland. Dr Matthew Knight, curator of prehistory for Bronze Age collections at NMS, described the Blyth Hoard as a classic archaeological find that initially appears unassuming but is actually "really incredible and has many stories to tell."

The ingot found at Blyth is said to be the first of its kind discovered in Scotland. Specialists hope that analysing the metal will reveal where the raw material originated, potentially tracing the geographical source of the metals used in bronze objects from both the Blyth and Peebles hoards. Such analysis could shed light on trade networks and metalworking practices during the Late Bronze Age.

The surviving clay moulds are also considered highly unusual. Dr Knight noted that it is "really rare for mould materials to survive at all," making the fragments a special find in themselves. Their proximity and apparent relationship to the Peebles Hoard, he added, makes the discovery "all the more extraordinary."

Excavations by archaeologists at the Blyth site further uncovered an ancient stone cairn, adding another layer of archaeological context to the metalwork. The combined evidence suggests the area was an important location for Bronze Age activity, not merely a site where objects were deposited or lost.

The Peebles Hoard itself remains one of the most significant Bronze Age discoveries in Scotland. Found by Stepien in 2020, it included a complete horse harness. Subsequent excavations revealed a sword still inside its scabbard, decorated straps, buckles, rings, ornaments, and chariot wheel axle caps. Those items point to a society with sophisticated equestrian and perhaps military equipment, as well as fine decorative metalworking.

The Peebles Hoard was saved for the nation in 2024. Its preservation was widely welcomed because the assemblage offered a rare, coherent picture of Bronze Age life and death. The discovery of the Blyth Hoard nearby now gives researchers an opportunity to compare two related collections and consider what they might say about the people who made, used, and buried them.

The Blyth Hoard has been transferred to the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh, where it will undergo conservation and analysis. Work there will focus on stabilising the metal objects, examining the clay moulds in detail, and determining the composition and likely origin of the copper ingot.

Stepien said he was excited when he first realised he had found more Bronze Age material in an area he already knew to be archaeologically significant. At the time, he had no idea how important the discovery might prove to be. Reflecting on the coincidence of two finds so close together, he said it was extraordinary to think they could be connected, and that he looked forward to learning what further research might reveal about both hoards and the people behind them.

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 discoveries. Significant finds may then be claimed on behalf of the Crown by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and allocated to museums through the Treasure Trove system, ensuring they can be preserved and made available for public benefit.

The process means that objects such as those in the Blyth Hoard are not simply kept by their finders. Instead, they enter a formal system designed to protect Scotland's archaeological heritage while recognising the role of responsible detectorists in reporting what they uncover.

For archaeologists, the wider significance of the Blyth Hoard lies in what it may add to the story of the Peebles Hoard. The presence of moulds that could have been used to make fittings found nearby raises the possibility that the two hoards are not isolated deposits but part of a broader pattern of metalworking and deposition in the region.

Researchers will also want to understand why the objects were buried. Bronze Age hoards are often interpreted as votive offerings, stores of wealth, or material hidden during unsettled times. The discovery of a stone cairn at the Blyth site may offer clues about ritual or commemorative activity associated with the deposition.

For now, the Blyth Hoard remains in Edinburgh, where conservation and scientific analysis will continue. The results could help pinpoint where the copper and other metals came from, illuminate the relationship between the two hoards, and deepen understanding of a period when bronze objects carried great value and meaning.

Dr Knight's assessment captures the emerging picture: a find that looked modest at first but has turned out to be deeply significant. With its rare ingot, surviving moulds, and apparent ties to the Peebles Hoard, the Blyth Hoard is set to play a central role in future research into Late Bronze Age Scotland.