Detectorist Unearths Second Bronze Age Hoard Just Miles From Landmark Peebles Find

A metal detectorist has uncovered a second significant Bronze Age hoard in the Scottish Borders, just seven miles from where he made a previous landmark discovery. Mariusz Stepien found the new collection of 3,000-year-old artefacts in 2022, several years after his 2020 discovery of the Peebles Hoard, which was saved for the nation in 2024.

The latest find, named the Blyth Hoard, dates from the Late Bronze Age, a period spanning roughly 1150BC to 850BC. Among the objects recovered are two bronze axe-heads and a set of clay moulds that archaeologists believe may have been used to produce distinctive bronze fittings found in the nearby Peebles Hoard. The collection also includes a complete copper ingot, which experts describe as the first of its kind to be found in Scotland.

Archaeologists who carried out an excavation at the site also revealed an ancient stone cairn, adding further archaeological context to the discovery. The Blyth Hoard has now been transported to the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh, where it will undergo conservation and detailed analysis.

Dr Matthew Knight, curator of prehistory and Bronze Age collections at National Museums Scotland, described the find as deceptively modest in appearance but rich in historical value. He said the discovery falls into the category of archaeological finds that initially seem unremarkable but turn out to be genuinely remarkable, with numerous stories to tell.

Dr Knight highlighted the rarity of surviving mould materials, noting that such preservation is unusual in itself. He added that the close proximity of the Blyth Hoard to the Peebles Hoard, and the apparent relationship between the two, makes the discovery even more extraordinary.

The Peebles Hoard, discovered by Stepien in 2020, is notable for containing a complete horse harness, a rare survival from the Bronze Age. Subsequent excavations at that site uncovered a sword still inside its scabbard, along with decorated straps, buckles, rings, ornaments and chariot wheel axle caps. That collection was formally saved for the nation in 2024, cementing its status as one of the most important Bronze Age finds in Scotland in recent decades.

Experts are particularly interested in the copper ingot from the Blyth Hoard. Analysis of the ingot could help pinpoint the geographical origin of the metals used to create bronze objects in both hoards, potentially revealing trade routes or sources of raw material that connected Bronze Age communities across Britain and beyond.

Stepien said he was excited when he first realised he had found more Bronze Age material in an area he already understood to be archaeologically significant. He admitted that at the time he had no idea how important the discovery might ultimately prove to be. Reflecting on the connection between his two finds, he described it as extraordinary to think that discoveries made so close to one another could be linked.

The detectorist added that he was looking forward to seeing what further research could reveal about both hoards and about the people who created and buried them. His earlier discovery of the Peebles Hoard also drew public attention to the role of responsible metal detecting in uncovering archaeological treasures.

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

The Blyth Hoard now joins a growing body of Bronze Age material from the Scottish Borders that is reshaping understanding of the period. The presence of clay moulds alongside finished metal objects offers a rare window into production techniques, while the copper ingot provides a potential chemical fingerprint that could link the region to distant metal sources.

Archaeologists hope that comparative analysis of the two hoards will shed light on how Bronze Age communities in the area lived, worked and traded. The fact that both collections were found within a few miles of each other suggests the location may have held particular significance, whether as a settlement, a ritual site or a metalworking centre.

The discovery also underscores the continuing contribution of amateur detectorists to professional archaeology when finds are reported correctly. Stepien's willingness to report his discoveries has allowed experts to study them in controlled conditions and to excavate the surrounding areas, recovering additional context that might otherwise have been lost.

Conservation work at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh will now focus on stabilising the artefacts and preparing them for scientific examination. Researchers are expected to study the composition of the copper ingot and the bronze axe-heads, as well as the clay moulds, to build a more detailed picture of Bronze Age metalworking in Scotland.

The Blyth Hoard has not yet been formally allocated to a museum, but its journey through the Treasure Trove system will determine its long-term home. Whatever the outcome, the find is already being described as a valuable addition to Scotland's archaeological record and a striking example of how chance discoveries can illuminate the distant past.