Row over Viking hoard deepens
Politicians back campaign to house treasures in Galloway
A CAMPAIGN to put a historic Viking hoard on display close to where it was found has been backed by politicians.
Councillor Tom McAughtrie, chairman of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s communities committee, criticised moves by National Museums Scotland to store the find in Edinburgh.
The hoard was discovered in Galloway by metal detectorist Derek McLennan in 2014, a treasure trove that had been deliberately buried more than 1,000 years ago.
It includes more than 100 gold and silver objects. Among them are a unique gold bird-shaped pin, an enamelled Christian cross, decorated Anglo-Saxon brooches, armbands and an engraved Carolingian silver vessel.
The treasures, with an estimated total value of £1 million, come from across Europe.
However, people in Galloway fear that the hoard, currently owned by the Crown, could be entirely allocated to National Museums Scotland, in Edinburgh.
In a letter to The Herald, Mr McAughtrie said: “My understanding of the National Museums Scotland proposal is that they want the rights to buy the hoard and will deign to lend it to the regional museums service as and when they do not require it in Chambers Street.
“Despite being asked to do so on a number of occasions, they have not clarified how they propose to fund this, nor when the arrangements might apply.
“We have made provision in our new gallery in Kirkcudbright, currently under development for a 2018 opening, for secure and environmentally tailored display of the hoard.”
The intervention comes after the Galloway Viking Hoard (GVH) campaign wrote to culture secretary Fiona Hyslop and MPs to enlist their support.
Campaigners have also launched an online petition, which has 600 signatures.
Cathy Agnew, chairwoman of the GVH, said: “It’s already clear that a lot of people think it would be very inappropriate if, during Scotland’s designated Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, such a wonderful find should go to Edinburgh rather than the region where it was buried for safekeeping 1,000 years ago.”
A spokeswoman for National Museums Scotland said: “We have been in dialogue with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the acquisition of the Galloway Hoard for several months now and are continuing our discussions.
“The hoard is of considerable national and international significance and acquisition by National Museums Scotland would save it for the nation in the long term and ensure that the hoard is seen by people from Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally.”