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Items believed to be pieces of the Brain Age brain were also found
A metal detectorist was left “shaken with happiness” after discovering a horde of Bronze Age artifacts within Scottish borders.
A complete horse-drawn carriage and sword were unveiled in June by Mariusz Stepien at the site at Peebles.
Experts said the discovery was of “national significance”.
The bottom had preserved the leather and wood, allowing experts to wear the straps that fastened the rings and buckles.
This allowed the experts to see for the first time how the horses of the Bronze Age were assembled.
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Dariusz Gucwa
Mariusz Stepien discovered the hoard at Peebles in June
Mr. Stepien searched the field with friends when he found a bronze object buried half a meter underground.
He said: ‘I thought’ I’ve never seen such a thing before ‘and felt from the start that this could be something spectacular and I’ve just discovered a great deal of Scottish history.
“I was over the moon, and was actually shaking with happiness.”
Mr. Stepien and his friends camped in the field when archaeologists spent 22 days exploring the site.
He said: “Every day new objects came out that changed the context of the find, every day we learned something new.
“I’m so happy that the earth has revealed to me something that was hidden for over 3000 years. I still can not believe it happened.”
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Archaeologists have found a sword still in its shaking during their excavation
Archaeologists have found a sword still in its shaken, decorated belts, buckles, rings, ornaments and chariots with wheels.
There is also evidence of a decorative “rattle earring” that would hang from the harness, the first to be found in Scotland, and only the third in the United Kingdom.
Emily Freeman, head of the Treasury Trove Unit of the Crown Office, said it was “a nationally important find.”
She said: “So few Bronze Age hoards have been excavated in Scotland, it was a great opportunity for us to restore not only bronze artifacts but also organic material.
“There is still a lot of work to be done to assess the artifacts and understand why they were dropped.”
The beginning of the Bronze Age in Britain can be traced back to around 2,000 BC.
