Iron Age 'warrior' treasures to go on show for first time

Rare treasures found with a young Iron Age man buried around 2,000 years ago are to be displayed in a new exhibition for the first time.

The rare objects include weapons which experts say could mean the man was a warrior.

The items will go on show in a special exhibition about Scotland's "First Warriors", which opens on Saturday at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The remains of the man were found in a stone-lined burial chamber at Marshill in Alloa, a historic town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland in the early 2000s.

It's thought the warrior was buried around 10-70AD with an iron sword in a leather protective case, called a scabbard, placed carefully across his chest, and a spear beside him.

The items were discovered by archaeologist Susan Mills in 2003.

Iron Age burials discovered in Scotland are very rare, and those including weapons are said to be exceptionally rare.

Ornaments were also found, including a bronze cloak pin, a glass bead pendant and bronze and iron rings from a belt around his waist.

Two bronze toe rings suggest he wore sandals, which is said to be a sign of high status.

Matthew Knight, senior curator of prehistory at National Museums Scotland, said: "The remarkable objects from the Marshill burial give us a vivid insight into the mindset of prehistoric communities living in Scotland almost 2,000 years ago.

"Burying people with weapons may reflect the person's role in life as a warrior, or how their community wanted them to be seen in the afterlife."

The free exhibition, which runs until 16 May next year, will look at how people fought, their motivations and the impact of conflict on people's live in pre-historic times.

Other archaeological items on show include the Carnoustie Hourd, a rare spearhead and bronze sword.