The Galloway Hoard, the richest collection of Viking-age treasures ever discovered in the British Isles, is set to make its international debut. The exhibition, Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard, will open at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide on 8 February 2025 and run until 27 July 2025. This marks the first time that artifacts from the hoard will be displayed outside the United Kingdom.
Discovered in 2014 and buried around AD 900, the Galloway Hoard is an unparalleled collection of Viking-age objects. It contains a remarkable array of materials and craftsmanship, offering a rare glimpse into the wealth, trade networks, and cultural exchange of the era. To commemorate the upcoming tour, newly released images show the entire hoard together for the first time since its discovery nearly a decade ago.
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“A Journey into the Unknown”
Dr. Martin Goldberg, Principal Curator of Medieval Archaeology & History at National Museums Scotland, described the significance of the exhibition:
“The Galloway Hoard has repeatedly drawn international attention since its discovery and acquisition by National Museums Scotland. But this hoard was in many respects a journey into the unknown, and the exhibition presents all the amazing discoveries we have made through our research. We’re delighted the exhibition can now be seen by audiences outside the UK, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience these exceptional objects in person.”
The Galloway Hoard Image (c) National Museums Scotland
“The Galloway Hoard is a rich collection in every sense, from rare and unique examples of gold and silverwork that shows the artistry of the period to items of hacked bullion that show the intensity of trade and exchange,” said Dr. David Gaimster, CEO of the South Australian Museum. “Taken together, this hoard challenges popular understandings of this period in world history. Indeed, the Hoard reveals the extensive networks of trade and exchange that stretched from Scandinavia and the Atlantic across to Central Asia and the Silk Routes.”
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A Hoard Divided
The hoard was buried in four distinct parcels, each more intricate than the last. The top layer included silver bullion and a rare Anglo-Saxon cross, while the lower layers contained treasures such as a second, larger parcel of silver bullion wrapped in leather, a set of decorated silver arm-rings concealing a box of gold, and a silver-gilt vessel wrapped in textiles and packed with carefully curated objects. Items like beads, pendants, brooches, and silk-wrapped curios suggest that these objects were considered relics or heirlooms.
Conservation and research efforts have been instrumental in uncovering the secrets of the Galloway Hoard. Using cutting-edge technology, experts have revealed details that were hidden for over a thousand years, including inscriptions and decorations on metal objects. However, some artifacts are too fragile to travel, particularly those with rare textile remnants, and will be represented through audiovisual and 3D reconstructions.
Future Displays
Acquired by National Museums Scotland in 2017, the Galloway Hoard has undergone years of conservation and study. The exhibition in Adelaide is the first stop in an international tour, with additional venues to be announced. After the tour, the collection will be displayed near its discovery site in Kirkcudbright, Scotland.
The ongoing research project, Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard, is funded by a £1 million grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and involves collaboration with leading experts from across the UK and Ireland.
The Galloway Hoard, the richest collection of Viking-age treasures ever discovered in the British Isles, is set to make its international debut. The exhibition, Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard, will open at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide on 8 February 2025 and run until 27 July 2025. This marks the first time that artifacts from the hoard will be displayed outside the United Kingdom.
Discovered in 2014 and buried around AD 900, the Galloway Hoard is an unparalleled collection of Viking-age objects. It contains a remarkable array of materials and craftsmanship, offering a rare glimpse into the wealth, trade networks, and cultural exchange of the era. To commemorate the upcoming tour, newly released images show the entire hoard together for the first time since its discovery nearly a decade ago.
“A Journey into the Unknown”
Dr. Martin Goldberg, Principal Curator of Medieval Archaeology & History at National Museums Scotland, described the significance of the exhibition:
“The Galloway Hoard has repeatedly drawn international attention since its discovery and acquisition by National Museums Scotland. But this hoard was in many respects a journey into the unknown, and the exhibition presents all the amazing discoveries we have made through our research. We’re delighted the exhibition can now be seen by audiences outside the UK, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience these exceptional objects in person.”
“The Galloway Hoard is a rich collection in every sense, from rare and unique examples of gold and silverwork that shows the artistry of the period to items of hacked bullion that show the intensity of trade and exchange,” said Dr. David Gaimster, CEO of the South Australian Museum. “Taken together, this hoard challenges popular understandings of this period in world history. Indeed, the Hoard reveals the extensive networks of trade and exchange that stretched from Scandinavia and the Atlantic across to Central Asia and the Silk Routes.”
A Hoard Divided
The hoard was buried in four distinct parcels, each more intricate than the last. The top layer included silver bullion and a rare Anglo-Saxon cross, while the lower layers contained treasures such as a second, larger parcel of silver bullion wrapped in leather, a set of decorated silver arm-rings concealing a box of gold, and a silver-gilt vessel wrapped in textiles and packed with carefully curated objects. Items like beads, pendants, brooches, and silk-wrapped curios suggest that these objects were considered relics or heirlooms.
Conservation and research efforts have been instrumental in uncovering the secrets of the Galloway Hoard. Using cutting-edge technology, experts have revealed details that were hidden for over a thousand years, including inscriptions and decorations on metal objects. However, some artifacts are too fragile to travel, particularly those with rare textile remnants, and will be represented through audiovisual and 3D reconstructions.
Future Displays
Acquired by National Museums Scotland in 2017, the Galloway Hoard has undergone years of conservation and study. The exhibition in Adelaide is the first stop in an international tour, with additional venues to be announced. After the tour, the collection will be displayed near its discovery site in Kirkcudbright, Scotland.
The ongoing research project, Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard, is funded by a £1 million grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and involves collaboration with leading experts from across the UK and Ireland.
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