Major new exhibition to showcase northern archaeology treasures at Great North Museum: Hancock 

Archaeological treasures from across Northern Britain will be brought together in a major new exhibition at Newcastle University’s Great North Museum: Hancock. Opening on Saturday 28 March 2026, Treasure: Hidden, Lost, Foundwill showcase thousands of years of history through remarkable finds—including Tudor coins, Roman jewellery, and Anglo-Saxon gold—offering visitors a unique glimpse into the North’s rich past.  

Malavika Anderson, Museum Manager at the Great North Museum: Hancock, said, "We are delighted to unite these incredible archaeological finds from across the North for our latest exhibition. From Roman silver discovered along Hadrian’s Wall to 9th-century gold found by a Newcastle University student, this is a rare opportunity to see these scattered treasures displayed alongside one another. We can’t wait for people to experience the thrill of these finds and the fascinating stories they reveal about our shared past.” 

The exhibition traces the journey of each object, exploring how and why these treasures were buried, the stories behind their discovery, and how they have been owned and valued over time. 

One highlight is the Tribley shield, a bronze shield that remained buried and intact for thousands of years before it was unearthed in the 18th century by a farmer near Chester-le-Street. At the time, the shield was split into three pieces so its metal could be shared among friends. Today, two of those pieces are reunited and valued as an important piece of evidence from the past.

The exhibition also showcases the people, places, and tools behind these discoveries, set within a multi-sensory environment designed for all ages. 

Andrew Parkin, Keeper of Archaeology at the Great North Museum: Hancock, said, “This exhibition provides us with a great opportunity to tell some of the exciting treasure stories from our region and beyond.  

“I'm especially pleased we are able to display some impressive treasure finds from Scotland, like the Birnie coin hoard, that help tell the story of Rome's northern frontier, shedding light on Roman relationships with peoples living north of Hadrian's Wall. 

“The exhibition also gives us the chance to display some of our own impressive treasures alongside items from the British Museum, highlighting the strength of the archaeological collections in the Great North Museum: Hancock.” 

Featuring loans from the British Museum, National Museum of Scotland, Vindolanda, alongside the Great North Museum: Hancock’s collections, the exhibition offers fresh perspectives on Northern Britain’s shared heritage. 

The exhibition kicks off with a free family fun day on Saturday 28 March, with more treasure-themed events, activities, and curator tours on offer throughout the year. 

Treasure: Hidden, Lost, Found will be open to the public from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 20 September 2026, with free admission. 

ENDS

The Great North Museum: Hancock is managed by North East Museums on behalf of Newcastle University.   

The Museum brings together the North East’s premier collections of archaeology, natural history, geology and world cultures under one roof. It incorporates collections from the original Hancock Museum, Newcastle University’s former Museum of Antiquities and the Shefton Museum.   

The Great North Museum: Hancock is a partnership between Newcastle University, North East Museums, the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) and the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT). 

The British archaeological collections at the Great North Museum: Hancock are owned by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT). 

Great North Museum: Hancock  
Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PT  
www.greatnorthmuseum.org.uk | info@greatnorthmuseum.org.uk | (0191) 2086765