The remains of a young Iron Age man, aged between 17 and 25, were discovered in a stone-lined cist at Marshill in Alloa. He was buried with an iron sword in a leather scabbard placed across his chest and a spear laid alongside him. The young man, buried around 10-70AD, was richly adorned with ornaments including a bronze cloak pin, a glass bead pendant, and bronze and iron rings from a belt around his waist. Two bronze toe rings suggest he wore sandals, a sign of high status.
Exhibition Details
The objects will go on show in the exhibition Scotland’s First Warriors, opening on Saturday at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Very few Iron Age burials have been discovered in Scotland, and those including weapons are exceptionally rare. Matthew Knight, senior curator of prehistory at National Museums Scotland, said: “The remarkable objects from the Marshill burial give us a vivid insight into the mindset of prehistoric communities living in Scotland almost 2,000 years ago. Burying people with weapons may reflect the person’s role in life as a warrior, or how their community wanted them to be seen in the afterlife. These treasured objects tell us this young man was a powerful member of his community.”
Research and Conservation
The items were discovered by archaeologist Susan Mills in 2003 during a routine excavation of two cists. They have undergone significant research and conservation by experts at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh and are on loan to the exhibition from the Treasure Trove Unit. Replicas of the spearhead and sword have been created by Ratho Byres Forge and Alan Braby, displayed alongside the originals to illustrate how they would once have gleamed.
Exhibition Highlights
The free exhibition, running until May 16 next year, explores the origins of organized conflict, how people fought, their motivations, the impact of war on people’s lives, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Items never seen before, including internationally significant archaeological discoveries from across Scotland such as the Carnoustie Hoard, will also be on show.
