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Tullydonnell Gold Hoard on display
in Letterkenny
26.11.19
DONEGAL County Museum
in association with the National Museum of Ireland
is delighted to announce that the Tullydonnell Lower
Gold Hoard will be on display in Donegal County
Museum until Saturday, 30 November.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Nicholas Crossan said “The
Council is delighted that the people of Donegal will
now have an opportunity to see these remarkable
artefacts over the coming two weeks. I want to pay
particular thanks to the staff of the County Museum
and congratulate them on this exhibition. Without
their hard work these extraordinary gold rings would
not now be on display in Donegal.” |
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Tullydonnell Gold Hoard is on display
at Donegal County Museum in Letterkenny. |
The gold hoard, dating
from the Late Bronze Age (1200 to 800BC) was
discovered by chance in June 2018, when farmers took
the opportunity of a dry summer to improve drainage
at the base of a field at Tullydonnell Lower in East
Donegal. They uncovered a small pit covered by a
boulder which contained four solid gold overlapping
rings.
Lynn Scarff, Director of the National Museum of
Ireland says, “The Museum would like to recognise
the significant cooperation of the finders and the
local community in Donegal over the last 18 months.
Working together we have been able to bring these
exceptional four gold rings to Letterkenny so that
as many people as possible from the locality can see
these unique artefacts.”
Analysis of the metal has shown that they contain
gold and small quantities of silver and copper
consistent with Late Bronze Age Irish gold
artefacts. Together these objects weigh over 4kg
(8.8lbs). They are simply finished apart from
hammered-up ends and are in perfect condition.
They are the heaviest intact prehistoric gold hoard
ever found in Ireland. They may have been a way of
storing bullion for manufacturing finer metalwork
such as gorgets. It is believed that the gold ore
may have originated in Cornwall, England.
Admission is free and all are welcome. Opening hours
10am - 4.30pm Monday- Friday. For further
information contact Donegal County Museum, High
Road, Letterkenny by email
museum@donegalcoco.ie or call 074 91 24613. |
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