A rare Bronze Age artefact is set to go on show at a West Cumbrian museum.
The gold arm ring was discovered in 2019 in West Cumbria by Billy Vaughan, a local Whitehaven detectorist, and is thought to originate from 900 to 700 BC.
While similar items have been found in other parts of the UK, the object is a first for the area and will go on show in The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven.
It has been jointly acquired by museum and Tullie and purchased with support from Art Fund, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Cumberland Council and the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.
Between Saturday 18 November and June 2024, the item will take centre place in the museum’s Prehistoric and Bronze Age section located at the entrance to the museum’s third floor gallery ‘History of Copeland’.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s executive member for vibrant and healthy places, said: “As a new council, we are already seeing the advantages of working together to support culture in Cumberland.
“The Beacon Museum and Tullie have worked in partnership to ensure this significant find, found in our area, stays here, and will go on show, on a rotational basis, in two of our museums.
“The Cumberland area is lucky to have a wide range of arts and cultural attractions. This joint acquisition provides more opportunities for our communities to see this amazing find and discover more about their local heritage.”
The Beacon Museum’s customer and visitor experience manager, Heather Holmes added: “The find will significantly enhance The Beacon Museum’s prehistoric and Bronze Age story of our area.
“The nature of the item, and its role as a showpiece object, will highlight the importance of the museum as a venue for sharing heritage with both the local community and wider tourist market.
“It will support the museum’s existing prehistoric and bronze age collections as it will be the first item made of metal from the period to enter the collection. It’s a must-see exhibit.”
The artefact will also be showcased at Tullie in Carlisle from July 2024. It will then be on show on a rotational basis between the two museums.
Tulle’s head of collections and engagement, Anna Smalley said: “Since the Portable Antiquities Scheme began recording archaeological finds in 1997, only eight other gold objects from the Bronze Age have been recorded in Cumbria.
“The majority of Bronze Age material recorded originates in the south of Cumbria, making this Northern example really exciting for the local region.”
Tullie holds a number of objects linked to the Bronze Age, from Bronze Age gold to rock art and Neolithic tridents which all hint towards a strong trading and migration network between England and Ireland through Cumbria across the Stone Ages and Bronze Age.
Prof Michael Lewis, head of portable antiquities & treasure at British Museum, said: “It is wonderful news that The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven, has been able to acquire this important Late Bronze Age gold arm ring for local people to see and enjoy.
“The British Museum is proud of its role in managing the Portable Antiquities Scheme in England, through which this object was reported Treasure via the local Finds Liaison Officer.”
Leanne Manfredi, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund said: “The Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund supports the purchase of a wide range of material for the permanent collections of non-nationally funded organisations in England and Wales.
“We are delighted that this Bronze Age gold arm ring of ‘regional significance and of national interest’ has been jointly acquired by The Beacon Museum and Tullie via the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. It will benefit audiences for years to come.”
