Bronze Age Scottish 'warrior shield' to go on show in Edinburgh

An "incredibly rare" Bronze Age shield has returned to Scotland for the first time in more than 230 years.

The shield was discovered near Beith in North Ayrshire in around 1779. It was presented to the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1791 where it has remained since.

Measuring around 60-70cm in diameter, the bronze shield even has spear damage and other forms of damage - suggesting it was used in combat.

It will be displayed at the First Warriors exhibition, which opens at the National Museum of Scotland (NMS) in Edinburgh this summer and will be the first time it has been seen in Scotland since its discovery.

Dr Matthew Knight, a curator at NMS, said unpacking the Beith shield "was breath-taking".

According to historical reports, the shield was found with five others buried upright in a circle in the peat.

It is not known why the group of shields was buried in this way, and the whereabouts of the others also remains a mystery.

"Bronze shields from this period are exceptional to Britain and by bringing all six of these incredibly rare shields together, we can gain a deeper understanding of life and conflict in Bronze Age Scotland and beyond.

"It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Knight said.

The Bronze Age in Scotland spans a 1,400-year period from about 2,200 BC to about 800 BC.

Wooden or leather shields were more common in those times, so it is thought the rare bronze ones symbolised the status of the warriors they belonged to.

Several shields will be on display along with archaeological discoveries from across Scotland, including a rare spearhead decorated with gold and a bronze sword in a wooden scabbard, dating from around 1120-920 BC

The exhibition opens on June 27 and runs until May 17, 2027.