Buried Treasure goes on show at Museum of Liverpool

A gold cape, Viking silver, finely fashioned Bronze Age axe and spear heads and hoards full of Roman and Tudor coins are on show in a captivating exhibition at the Museum of Liverpool.

Treasure: History Unearthed is at the waterfront landmark until March 2026.

The ground floor exhibition - curated by National Museums Liverpool’s expert archaeology team - brings together rare and fascinating archaeological artefacts from the North West and North Wales in a display which is the most extensive of its kind ever to be staged in the region.

Among the items on show are the Moel Hebog Shield dating from the late Bronze Age, which was discovered in a bog in Wales in 1784 and is on loan from the British Museum; the Mold Cape, found at the Bryn yr Ellyllon burial mound in 1833 but whose wider significance was only understood more than 100 years later, and the stunning Bronze Age Ysceifiog Torq which was uncovered by two brothers in Flintshire in 1816 while some land was being cleared near a lime kiln – and was subsequently used to fasten a gate!

Other items have either been uncovered by metal detectorists, during farming, or in more organised and professional archaeological digs and include significant objects from the Shochlach, Heronbridge, Broxton and Castle Esplane Hoards.

Above: a slideshow gallery of images from the exhibition. Top: the Mold Cape.

The exhibition features a host of loans from institutions including Museum Wales (Amgueddfa Cymru), Flintshire Museum Collections, West Cheshire Council and Nantwich Museum as well as items from the Peover Hoard which is held by National Museums Liverpool (NML).

Treasure in archaeology refers to objects made of gold or silver that are more than 300 years old. It also includes prehistoric hoards, and groups of coins buried together. These items are not only beautiful examples of the work of skilled craftspeople, but they also offer a fascinating insight into the lives, beliefs, and cultures of people from the past.

The exhibition – which has taken around two years to come to fruition - puts the objects in historical and, importantly, social and personal context. Some items were simply lost for hundreds or even thousands of years, but many were deliberately buried, and Treasure examines the various reasons why, as well as the idea of wealth, power, invasion, trade and empires.

Vanessa Oakden, NML’s Curator of Regional & Community Archaeology, says: “We’re thrilled to bring together this extraordinary collection of objects together for the first time, highlighting the fascinating stories behind them. What makes this even more meaningful is that the exhibition is presented in both English and Welsh, making it more inclusive and accessible to visitors.

“Treasures: History Unearthed is a special moment for National Museums Liverpool and for the North West of England.

“It highlights the significant work being done through the Portable Antiquities Scheme and highlights why the Treasure Act is vital for both protecting and sharing heritage."

Treasure: History Unearthed is on show at the Museum of Liverpool until March 29, 2026. Tickets cost £5 for adults while under 17s go free. Tickets HERE