The Galloway Hoard, one of the most significant Viking Age discoveries and archaeological finds from the United Kingdom this century, will soon go on display at Melbourne Museum.
Open from from August 29 to January 26 next year, ‘Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard’ will reveal over 100 rare and unique Viking Age objects ever found in Britain or Ireland.
Discovered in 2014 southwest Scotland, the Hoard was buried around AD900 when the region was experiencing a time of upheaval and flux.
Found in four distinct parcels, the Hoard contains over five kilograms of silver bullion, gold, rock crystals and textiles, with many of the objects never seen in Britain and Ireland before.
The rich collection of treasures offers a tantalising glimpse into the people, culture, trade and political structures of early medieval Europe and connections with the wider world.
Decoding the secrets of the Galloway Hoard has been led by a team of experts from National Museums Scotland with conservation work, including painstaking cleaning, combined with cutting-edge research.
New insights and discoveries into the mysteries of the Galloway Hoard are as recent as February 2025, when a new translation of a runic inscription found on an 1,100-year-old arm ring shed new light on the mystery of who owned and buried the Hoard.
Reflecting on the significance of the Galloway Hoard, Museums Victoria chief executive and director Lynley Crosswell said the organisation is “delighted to present one of the most significant European archeological discoveries of the century.”
“This is a rare opportunity for our visitors to experience up close a time capsule of 1,000-year-old objects from the Viking Age – a time in history that changed culture, politics and trade,” Ms Crosswell said.
National Museums Scotland principal curator of medieval archaeology and history Martin Goldberg said that Hoard “has repeatedly drawn international attention since its discovery.”
“We look forward enormously to bringing it to Melbourne. The exhibition contains a spectacular and varied selection of material, with intricate detail revealed through extensive conservation work,” Dr Goldberg said.
“It also showcases the results of nearly a decade’s worth of dedicated research which has enabled us to understand and reveal so much more about the Galloway Hoard and its international medieval context,” he said.
Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks said the Melbourne Museum will “once again transport us back in time and across the world with this rare collection of Viking Age treasures.”
“This exhibition adds another exciting drawcard to the museum’s offering this year and is set to attract visitors from near and far,” Mr Brooks said.
To celebrate the exhibition opening at Melbourne Museum, visitors have the exclusive chance to hear Dr Goldberg share unique insights into the Galloway Hoard’s historical and archaeological significance during a special curator lecture on the opening night, followed by an exhibition viewing on Friday, August 29.
Dr Goldberg will also host a series of pop-up talks on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31, discussing the research that uncovered new discoveries and highlighting objects from the Hoard that reveal stories about the people, culture and trade of the Viking Age.
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard first opened at the National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh in 2021.
Following its debut, the exhibition toured Scotland in 2021–2022, stopping at Kirkcudbright Galleries and Aberdeen Art Gallery, where it received record visitor numbers.
Tickets are now on sale for Treasures of the Viking Age, the Galloway Hoard online.
Details: museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/treasures-of-the-viking-age-the-galloway-hoard/
