Melsonby’s Reservoir: Iron Age Yorkshire Discovery reveals ancient British connections to Europe

Melsonby’s Reservoir is an astonishing collection of over 800 Iron Age metal artifacts discovered in December 2021 in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire.

The discovery represents the victory of cross-sector cooperation in British archaeology. This extraordinary discovery, excavated from Yorkshire soil, is not only a collection of ancient objects, but also shows the need for important revisions in ways of understanding Iron Age Britain.

The presence of materials imported from the Mediterranean, and the new and new continental European wagons in Britain challenge the idea that Iron Age British people have been isolated. Instead, people from the “wealthy” Iron Age in northern England showed that they had contacts that stretched throughout Europe.

Bolstered by a grant of £120,000 from historic England and expertise from the British Museum, this 2022 excavation revealed more than 800 items dating back to the first century BC. The object is almost certainly associated with the Brigantes tribe, who ruled the northern part of England during this period.

The scale of this discovery is different from typical Iron Age discoveries. The reservoir includes at least seven four-wheeled wagons and/or two-wheeled tank partial rial ruins, at least 14 horse harnesses, 28 iron tires (many intentionally bent), three ritual spears, and two ornate cauldrons.

In Iron Age England, communities regularly placed metalwork on rivers and swamps, marking important life events, including death. Thames intentionally deposited human skulls along with weapons and metal objects. Melsonby’s reservoir can be considered as land-based, equivalent to these water deposits.

One of the most important aspects of this discovery is the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons used by British tribes of the Iron Age, which mimicked the vehicles found on the European continent. The findings suggest that northern England is not isolated, and instead participate in a wide network that spans the Mediterranean, leading up to Europe.

Artisan artisans are exceptional when they appear in the storage as a whole. Some horse harnesses feature Mediterranean corals and coloured glass, showing unique, twisty patterns typical of Celtic art. One cauldron, likely to be used in wine mixing, combines Mediterranean and Iron Age artistic styles. It is evidence of the closure of cultural exchanges between Britain and continental Europe.

Of particular interest is evidence that many items were intentionally burned or broken before burial. This practice of ritually “killing” precious objects has deep roots in British prehistoric times and dates back to the Bronze Age. By destroying such items, the elites of the Iron Age may have shown their wealth and status through prominent consumption.

However, burning may have some form of involvement in funeral practices as well. No human remains were found, but they could have been burned at the funeral pia during the cremation ritual. This places Melsonby’s reservoir in an interesting position among traditional archaeological categories. This is a “storey” (intentional deposits of objects) and a “grave” (items placed along with the dead).

This double nature is not unheard of. Chariot burials are well documented in Iron Age Yorkshire, but the collection of horse equipment appears in other discovered reservoirs. Melsonby’s discoveries may represent a combination of these traditions.

But we don’t know about this if metal detector Peter Heads had not been decided to resist excavating the reservoir.

Upon discovery in December 2021, Head immediately contacted an archaeologist at Durham University to move textbook examples of appropriate archaeological practices. This allows for important contextual information that would have been lost forever if the site were interrupted without expert supervision.

The objects in the storage were carefully identified at the University of Southampton using scanning techniques, allowing archaeologists to drill without causing damage. This meticulous approach allows for years of productive research into these artifacts.

Melsonby’s storage, valued at £254,000, is eligible for the Yorkshire Museum’s fundraising campaign. The selection of objects is already on display, providing public access to these incredible artifacts.

As research into this extraordinary discovery continues, it stands as a powerful example of how appropriate archaeological practices can change the UK’s understanding of the past, from responsible metal detection to collaborative and well-funded excavations.

Melsonby’s Reservoir offers a unique window into British Iron Age life, challenging years of historical assumptions about local development and cultural sophistication.

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