A Scottish metal detectorist struck gold — or bronze, in this case — unearthing a hoard of ancient artefacts that experts say is rewriting how we see Bronze Age horse gear.
A Find That Left Him Shaking
On a June day near Peebles, Mariusz Stepien’s metal detector let out a familiar beep. What he didn’t expect was to pull a bronze object half a metre underground.
“Over the moon, actually shaking with happiness,” is how Stepien described it later. He and his friends camped in the field for 22 days as archaeologists got to work.
Harness, Sword And A Story Buried For Millennia
What emerged from the Scottish soil is astonishing — a complete horse harness, a sword still tucked in its scabbard, chariot wheel axle caps, decorated straps, rings, buckles, and an extraordinary “rattle pendant”.
This last item is especially rare — the first ever found in Scotland, only the third in the UK. Experts believe it would’ve hung from the horse harness, jingling as the animal moved.
Why This Hoard Matters
So few Bronze Age hoards have been properly excavated in Scotland that each find brings new knowledge. Emily Freeman, head of the Crown Office’s Treasure Trove Unit, called it “a nationally-significant find.”
She says the soil preserved more than just metal. The leather and wood survived too, allowing researchers to trace the straps that connected rings and buckles.
In Freeman’s words: “It was an amazing opportunity for us to not only recover bronze artefacts, but organic material as well.”
How Old Are We Talking?
The beginning of the Bronze Age in Britain is pegged at around 2,000 BC. That means Stepien’s hoard lay hidden for more than 3,000 years.
Here’s how it stacks up with other major Scottish Bronze Age finds:
| Site | Date Discovered | Key Finds | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peebles Hoard | June 2020 | Horse harness, sword, rattle pendant | Peebles, Borders |
| Skye Burial | 2017 | Beaker pot, human remains | Isle of Skye |
| Orkney Hoard | 1858 | Axes, knives, spearheads | Orkney |
| Dowris Hoard | 1820s | Bronze instruments, tools | Not Scotland, but a major Irish parallel |
Sources: Crown Office Treasure Trove Unit, National Museums Scotland
A Sleepless Camp Under The Stars
Stepien didn’t want to leave the site, so he and his friends pitched tents beside the trench. Each day brought new surprises — bronze ornaments one day, scabbard fittings the next.
“Every day there were new objects coming out which changed the context of the find,” he said. “Every day we learned something new.”
He still can’t believe it happened. “I’m so pleased the earth revealed to me something hidden for more than 3,000 years.”
Lessons For Archaeology
One reason this hoard is so unique is its condition. Normally, organic parts rot away. This time, damp Borders soil kept wood and leather intact — a rare break for experts.
It means historians can see for the first time exactly how Bronze Age horse harnesses were assembled. For anyone fascinated by ancient transport, that’s huge.
Key elements they’re studying now:
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Leather straps still attached to bronze rings
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A complete sword inside its original scabbard
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Buckles showing signs of decorative work
Scotland’s Ancient Treasures Keep Coming
The Peebles find joins a growing list of Scottish discoveries showing how lively the Bronze Age really was.
Emily Freeman says the work has only just begun. There’s analysis, conservation, and the bigger question: why bury such precious items at all?
Were they offerings to the gods? Tribute to a fallen warrior? A show of wealth from a Bronze Age chief?
No one knows yet — but Stepien’s discovery guarantees that questions will keep coming.
