archiwalia arch2

This image shows: Fragmentary Egyptian objects excavated at Melville House. A trove of valuable Ancient Egyptian objects was unearthed by teenage boys at a school in Fife, Scottish researchers have revealed. The extraordinary discovery of these objects at Melville House between 1952 and 1984 is now detailed in an article published in the upcoming Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The 18 objects, described by curators as including a 'masterpiece of Egyptian sculpture' in the form of a statue head, were found on three separate occasions. Most of them are currently part of the collection at National Museums Scotland and hold the distinction of being the only ancient Egyptian objects officially declared Treasure Trove in Scotland. The article, authored by Dr. Elizabeth Goring and Dr. Margaret Maitland, explores the unfolding events and the efforts made to trace the origins of these objects buried at Melville House. In 1984, Dr. Goring, a newly appointed curator at the then Royal Scottish Museum (now the National Museum of Scotland), encountered a group of teenage boys who brought in an object for identification. These boys, from a residential school under the Fife Regional Council, discovered an Egyptian bronze figurine of a man in the school grounds using a metal detector. Situated near Monimail, Melville House was a stately home commissioned by the first Earl of Melville in 1697, housing the school at the time. Upon consultation with colleagues, Dr. Goring discovered that Egyptian objects had been found on two prior occasions in the grounds of Melville House. In 1952, a boy from the private Dalhousie Castle School, then occupying Melville House, uncovered a mid-12th Dynasty red sandstone statue head while digging up potatoes as part of a punishment exercise. In 1966, during a PE class vaulting exercise, another boy landed on an Egyptian bronze votive statuette of an Apis bull protruding from the earth. This statuette was brought to the Museum by the supervising teacher, the same person who found the sandstone head in 1952. Recognising the connection between the three objects, Dr. Goring initiated an investigation at the site, discovering additional items such as the top part of a fine faience figurine of the goddess Isis suckling her son Horus and part of a faience plaque bearing the Eye of Horus. After the excavation, research was conducted to determine the original ownership of the objects in the UK. As conclusive evidence was lacking, the finds were designated as Treasure Trove and allocated to the Royal Scottish Museum. Dr. Goring says: “Excavating and researching these finds at Melville House has been the most unusual project in my archaeological career, and I’m delighted to now be telling the story in full. Uncovering ancient Egyptian objects in Fife is clearly unexpected, and the subsequent research to establish the origins of the collection has provided a fascinating tale, albeit one with further mysteries which may never be solved.” Visitors to the National Museum of Scotland can now view the magnificent statue head in the Ancient Egypt Rediscovered gallery. One explanation for the objects ending up buried at Melville House is the acquisition by Alexander, Lord Balgonie (1831-1857), the property's heir, during his visit to Egypt in 1856 with his sisters. They may have assembled the collection, keeping it at Melville House for a period before consigning it to an outbuilding. The eventual demolition of this outbuilding led to the long-forgotten objects going unnoticed in the building debris. Dr. Maitland, Principal Curator of the Ancient Mediterranean at National Museums Scotland, describes due to the mystery surrounding its origins. She explains: “The discovery of Egyptian artefacts that had been buried in Scotland for over a hundred years is evidence of the scale of 19th century antiquities collecting and its complex history. It was an exciting challenge to research and identify such a diverse range of artefacts, including some remarkable objects - the bronze priest statuette is a relatively rare form, while the sandstone statue head is a masterpiece of Egyptian sculpture.” Visitors to the National Museum of Scotland today can view the magnificent statue head in the Ancient Egypt Rediscovered gallery. Where: Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom When: 19 Nov 2023 Credit: National Museums Scotland/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED SUPPLIER.**