A remarkable Bronze Age hoard unearthed near Carnoustie, Angus, has been formally acquired by National Museums Scotland and will go on public display for the first time in the new exhibition Scotland’s First Warriors (27 June 2026 – 17 May 2027). Dating from 1120 to 920 BCE, the hoard contains an unusually rare gold-decorated spearhead and a bronze sword preserved within a wooden scabbard.

The Bronze Age Carnoustie Hoard. Credit: National Museums Scotland

The Carnoustie Hoard was discovered in 2016 by GUARD Archaeology, which were undertaking excavations before a construction project. The site, intended to be developed into football pitches, revealed a wealth of archaeological material spanning nearly three millennia, from the early Neolithic through to the late Bronze Age. The most poignant finds were the finely crafted spearhead and sword, both carefully wrapped in organic material before burial.

The spearhead features a gold-bound socket, a feature only found elsewhere in one other example in Scotland. The accompanying sword features a lead-tin pommel and was preserved within a wooden scabbard. The ᴀssemblage uniquely includes fragments of woven wool, sheepskin, and a disc-headed pin used to fasten the wrappings—rare survivals that provide insights into textile usage and ritual practices of the period.

Detail of gold decorated spearhead from the Carnoustie Hoard. Credit: National Museums Scotland

Archaeologists explain that the evidence of the hoard being deliberately buried near a Bronze Age roundhouse proves that deposition was not accidental storage. Instead, it appears to be a staged act that could suggest the existence of a warrior elite in the region of Angus over 3,000 years ago. The Carnoustie find is Scotland’s only Bronze Age weapon hoard to be discovered within a clearly defined settlement, offering the opportunity to study how such weaponry was linked to social idenтιтy, ritual activity, and communal life.

Conservator Bethan Bryan works on the Bronze Age Carnoustie Hoard. Credit: National Museums Scotland

Dr Matthew Knight, National Museums Scotland’s Senior Curator of Prehistory, stressed the significance of the find: “The Carnoustie Hoard is a remarkable discovery. This is the first time we’ve encountered weapons buried at a settlement where people lived. It forces us to reconsider relationships between people and these objects and enriches our picture of life in Bronze Age Scotland. On top of that we have the exceptional survival of wood, textiles and animal skin that express how much these objects were valued. After hours of painstaking conservation, I can’t wait to for visitors to see the hoard for the first time in our new exhibition Scotland’s First Warriors.”

The exhibition will feature over 250 objects, some of which will be on public display for the first time. Ranging from the Neolithic to the arrival of the Romans, it will trace the evolution of organized conflict in prehistoric Scotland. It will introduce the public to how people fought wars, what motivations drove warfare, and the lasting consequences of conflict on ancient societies.

National Museums Scotland curator Dr Matthew Knight examines the Carnoustie Hoard. Credit: National Museums Scotland

The Carnoustie Hoard not only emphasizes the ritual activity and craftsmanship of the Bronze Age, but also sheds light on the social and symbolic meaning of warfare in prehistoric Scotland.

More information: National Museums Scotland