Presenting a complex hoard deposit – the Galloway Hoard

Goldberg, Martin

Presenting a complex hoard deposit – the Galloway Hoard

Resource type

Abstract

Creator (person)

Goldberg, Martin

Abstract

The Galloway Hoard is the focus of an ongoing research project at National Museums Scotland examining a complex Viking-age deposit composed of multiple parcels, with organic preservation and a variety of materials (gold, silver, copper-alloy, glass, rock crystal, minerals, leather, wood, wool, silk, linen, and animal gut). There may be different motivations behind the accumulation of certain parcels from the contemporary, and relatively common, silver bullion typical of Viking-age hoards to a range of objects that look more like a collection of relics or heirlooms. There have been several phases of engagement with the public from an initial ‘out of the ground’ display as part of the fund-raising campaign in 2017, through a pandemic phase of digital and online engagement, an exhibition in 2021 that showcased the research and conservation undertaken between 2018–2020 and a touring exhibition through 2022 that regularly updates audiences on an AHRC-funded research project called ‘Unwrapping the Galloway Hoard’ (in partnership with the University of Glasgow). This paper will outline how, as the research and conservation are ongoing, the exhibition and public programme has had to take a different tack to any presentation of a complete or finished story and has instead attempted to bring the public into these ongoing processes, responding to their questions (which are often the same as our research questions) and showing how we might try to answer those questions.