Midlothian leads Scotland for recorded buried treasure discoveries

Midlothian has emerged as Scotland’s leading area for recorded buried treasure finds, with 119 discoveries, according to an analysis by precious metals firm BullionVault. The findings highlight Scotland’s archaeological richness and the different ways recorded discoveries and surviving historic sites can reveal its past.

East Lothian and Midlothian together had 169 finds and 369 scheduled monuments; Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale recorded 91 finds, while Dumfries had 84. A detectorist found a jug containing 250 medieval silver coins near Roslin in 2019, and a rare penny of King David I discovered in Midlothian last year was valued at £15,000. Historic Environment Scotland says detecting at scheduled monuments is illegal and urges people to follow the rules.