Unearthing The Galloway Hoard: A time capsule.
A slice of history lay hidden beneath a ploughed Scottish field undisturbed for more than a thousand years until, September 2014, when a metal detectorist made a discovery that would spark a global fascination. Unearthed in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, The Galloway Hoard, turned out to be one of the most significant Viking-age finds in Britain and Ireland.
It is a trove of over 100 gold, silver, and jewelled artefacts, along with textiles, glass, and exotic relics sourced from as far as Central Asia.
A Treasure Unlike Any Other
The Galloway Hoard is unique not only for its precious metals, but the impressive diversity of its contents. Among the treasures are intricately crafted arm-rings, brooches, ingots, a Christian cross, assortment of glass beads, a rock crystal jar, and an exceptionally rare silver-gilt lidded vessel, wrapped in textiles of Western Asian origin.
The vessel’s imagery, linked to Zoroastrianism and traced via advanced isotopic analysis to Iran, illustrates the vast trade networks of the early medieval era.
This mix of materials from Anglo-Saxon, Irish Sea, Norse, and even Persian origins forces a rethink of Viking identity. One must think more, ‘Viking age’ rather than Viking in origin.
As Dr Martin Goldberg of National Museums Scotland puts it, the Hoard is “a hoard of two halves”, one is visibly Viking, and the other deeply cosmopolitan.’
Buried, Forgotten, and Finally Reclaimed
Though it’s unclear exactly who buried the Hoard or why, theories and recent analysis offer a compelling clue. One of the arm-rings bears a newly deciphered runic inscription, believed to read: “This is the community’s wealth”. Which suggests the treasure was collectively owned and possibly buried for safekeeping during turbulent times.
After its discovery, a detailed excavation revealed the Hoard was buried in four distinct parcels - layered with care, wrapped in textiles, and even concealed beneath building remains.
Thanks to successful fundraising campaigns and support from heritage organisations, the National Museums Scotland secured the collection in 2017 for £1.98 million, preserving it for the public and scholarly research.
A Journey Begins: From Scotland to the Southern Hemisphere
Following its debut at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh in 2021, the exhibition toured within Scotland at Kirkcudbright and Aberdeen before preparing for an international journey.
In 2025, Australia became the first country outside the UK to host the exhibition. It opened earlier in the year at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide and has continued its tour to Melbourne Museum which opened on 29th August 2025 and closes on 26th January 2026.
Melbourne Awaits: A Landmark Exhibition
This is Melbourne's singular opportunity to experience the Galloway Hoard—a hoard of global significance and unprecedented rarity. The exhibition, titled “Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard,” features more than 100 artefacts never before seen outside the UK. It is a wonderful opportunity to witness these medieval treasures up close, guided by engaging displays and cutting-edge research - providing insights into the excavation, conservation, and cultural significance of the Hoard.
The importance of the Galloway Hoard
At its heart, the Galloway Hoard is a crossroads of cultures: a repository where Viking-age Scotland, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Ireland, and Eurasia intersected. It gives voice to communal legacy, international exchange, artistry, faith, and daily life around AD 900.
As many scholars note, the Hoard isn’t just treasure. It is a time capsule that requires us to rethink narratives about identity, trade, sacred objects, and societal upheaval in early medieval Britain
A Must-See Historical Voyage
For historians, students, and anyone drawn to stories of discovery, power, faith, and craftsmanship - the Galloway Hoard exhibition at the Melbourne Museum is unmissable. Distilling centuries of history into tangible form, it reminds us that the past is far more richly connected than we ever imagined.
The Galloway Hoard reveals how jewellery can carry deep layers of meaning and history.
By drawing on its blend of materials, intricate details, and timeless artistry, we can reimagine these elements in contemporary creations that speak to both cultural exchange and history.
*Images courtesy of National Museums Scotland.