Detectorist Mariusz Stepien reveals second Bronze Age hoard, the Blyth Hoard, in Scottish Borders
Metal detectorist Mariusz Stepien has revealed the Blyth Hoard, a Late Bronze Age find made in 2022 seven miles from the Peebles Hoard he found in 2020. It includes two axe-heads, clay moulds and a copper ingot said to be the first of its kind found in Scotland.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Metal detectorist Mariusz Stepien has revealed a second Bronze Age hoard in the Scottish Borders, which he called "quite extraordinary". BBC NewsN “A metal detectorist has revealed his "quite extraordinary" discovery of a second Bronze Age hoard in the Scottish Borders.” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “A metal detectorist has said it is “quite extraordinary” to have discovered his second Bronze Age hoard” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2He found the latest haul of 3,000-year-old treasure, dubbed the Blyth Hoard, in 2022, at a spot seven miles from where he found the Peebles Hoard in 2020. BBC NewsN “Mariusz Stepien found his latest haul of 3,000-year-old treasure in 2022 at a spot seven miles from where he discovered the Peebles Hoard in 2020.” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “Dubbed the Blyth Hoard, Mr Stepien’s latest find contains some remarkable objects dating from the Late Bronze Age” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2The Evening Standard dates the objects to about 1150 to 800BC, while the BBC gives 1150BC to 850BC. Evening StandardN “Late Bronze Age (circa 1150 to 800BC)” Read at Evening Standard ↗ BBC NewsN “the artefacts date from the Late Bronze Age between 1150BC to 850BC” Read at BBC News ↗
Centre · 1After first detecting an axe head, Stepien noticed other bronze objects in the ground and reported the find to the Treasure Trove Unit, which notified archaeologists from National Museums Scotland (NMS). Evening StandardN “After first detecting an axe head he noticed other bronze objects in the ground, and reported the find to the Treasure Trove Unit, which in turn notified archaeologists from National Museums Scotland (NMS).” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2The hoard features two bronze axe-heads and clay moulds potentially used to make some of the unique bronze fittings in the Peebles Hoard, plus a complete copper ingot said to be the first of its kind found in Scotland. BBC NewsN “They feature two bronze axe-heads, and clay moulds potentially used to make some of the unique bronze fittings in the nearby Peebles Hoard” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “It also includes a complete copper ingot, which is said to be the first of its kind found in Scotland.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Archaeologists' excavation also revealed an ancient stone cairn. BBC NewsN “Excavation by archaeologists further revealed an ancient stone cairn.” Read at BBC News ↗
Centre · 2The hoard has been taken to the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh for conservation and analysis, and experts hope the ingot may point to the geographical source of the metals used in both hoards. BBC NewsN “Experts hope that analysis of the ingot might point towards the geographical source of the metals used in the making of the bronze objects in both hoards.” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “The hoard has now been brought to the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh for conservation and analysis.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2Dr Matthew Knight, NMS curator of prehistory, Bronze Age collections, said it is rare for mould materials to survive and that the find's relationship to the Peebles Hoard makes it "all the more extraordinary"; he thanked Stepien for reporting it right away. Evening StandardN “We must thank the finder who, just as he did with the Peebles Hoard, reported the find to the Treasure Trove Unit right away” Read at Evening Standard ↗ BBC NewsN “It's really rare for mould materials to survive at all, so it's a special find in its own right” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 2Stepien said he had no idea at first how important the discovery would be, and looks forward to what further research reveals about both hoards and the people behind them. BBC NewsN “At that stage, I had no idea just how important the discovery might turn out to be.” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “I’m looking forward to seeing what further research and conservation can reveal about both hoards” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 2The Peebles Hoard, saved for the nation in 2024, includes a complete horse harness, a sword in its scabbard, decorated straps, buckles, rings, ornaments and chariot wheel axle caps; the Standard adds that its conservation revealed an unexpectedly silver hue attributed to high surface tin levels, thought to result from deliberate enrichment by skilled craftspeople. BBC NewsN “The Peebles Hoard includes a complete horse harness discovered by Stepien.”“which was saved for the nation in 2024” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “cleaning and conservation revealed an unexpectedly silver hue to the bronze material, which has been attributed to high levels of tin on the surface.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2Under Scots law, archaeological finds must be reported to the Treasure Trove Unit at NMS; significant finds may be claimed for the Crown by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and allocated to museums. NMS said research into both hoards will continue. BBC NewsN “Significant finds may be claimed on behalf of the Crown by the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “The NMS said further research into both the Peebles and Blyth Hoards will continue.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets run a straightforward discovery story built on the NMS announcement, led by Stepien's second find near the first and quoting him and NMS curator Dr Matthew Knight.
- Emphasis
- The Blyth Hoard's contents, its link to the Peebles Hoard, and the Treasure Trove process; the BBC adds detail on the Peebles Hoard's contents, the Standard on its silver-hued bronze.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Standard does not say the Peebles Hoard was saved for the nation in 2024 or list its contents; the BBC omits the silver-hue finding and Stepien's account of first detecting an axe head.
- Charged language
- “quite extraordinary”
- For example
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“A metal detectorist has revealed his "quite extraordinary" discovery of a second Bronze Age hoard in the Scottish Borders.” — BBC News
“This is one of those classic archaeological finds that initially doesn’t look like much” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Stepien found the Blyth Hoard in 2022, seven miles from the Peebles Hoard he found in 2020.
- It contains two bronze axe-heads, clay moulds and a complete copper ingot said to be the first of its kind found in Scotland.
- It has been taken to the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh for conservation and analysis.
Where accounts differ
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Date range of the Blyth Hoard objects
- Centre
- Evening Standard: circa 1150 to 800BC; BBC: 1150BC to 850BC.
Mariusz Stepien person
Stepien says he was excited to find more Bronze Age material in an archaeologically significant area, had no idea how important it would prove, and finds the apparent link between his two finds extraordinary.
“it is quite extraordinary to think that two discoveries I made so close to one another could be connected.” — BBC News
Blyth Hoard other
NMS presents the hoard as a classic find that looks modest but has many stories to tell, with rare surviving mould material and a first-of-its-kind copper ingot in Scotland.
“It's really rare for mould materials to survive at all, so it's a special find in its own right” — BBC News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Detectorist finds his second Bronze Age hoard in two years
Neutral Discovery report with full Stepien and NMS quotes and extra detail on the Peebles Hoard's silver hue.
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Metal detectorist finds second Bronze Age hoard in Scottish Borders
Neutral Concise report of the find, with background on the Peebles Hoard's contents and its 2024 acquisition.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 7 Oct 00:01 First Evening StandardN Detectorist finds his second Bronze Age hoard in two years
- 7 Oct 06:03 +6h 2m BBC NewsN Metal detectorist finds second Bronze Age hoard in Scottish Borders
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.