Unearthed, which opens at Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries (DCLG) on Saturday 21 March, takes visitors on a fascinating adventure from the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth to Viking times and the post-Medieval period through to more recent times – and there’s something for all ages to enjoy. The exhibition attracted almost 20,000 visitors when it was on show in Kirkcaldy Galleries in 2024, and this time around there are even more exciting treasures to be marveled over. These are items purchased by OnFife’s Collections Team, supported by funding from the National Fund for Acquisitions*, and they will be on show for the first time. The treasures include a Limoges-style silver figurine of the Madonna and Child, a set of copper weighing cups, a lion-shaped buckle, a heraldic harness pendant and a silver seal matrix, all dating back from as early as 1100 and discovered by metal detectorists in north-east Fife. The latter two items are believed to have been owned by noblemen and landowners of the period – the harness pendant to Baron Monthermer (1270-1325), son-in-law of English King Edward 1, and one of his three wardens in Scotland, and the seal matrix displays the coat of arms of Balfour of Burleigh – James Balfour owned Monimail Tower from 1564-1592. Unearthed also features many other rare and interesting objects, from precious stones and fossil fish to beautifully crafted Bronze Age beaker pots and Viking jewellery. And visitors who take the challenge to dig deeper will discover some amazing facts – did you know that the land we now call Scotland first formed near the South Pole? The exhibition is aimed at all ages but there are plenty of hands-on activities for younger visitors: get creative with a dinosaur magnetic mix up, be transformed into a burrowing bunny or fantastic fox at the dressing up area, or try fossil hunting and find buried treasures in the dig pits. There is also a cosy ‘tree burrow’ where they can relax and watch Mary Anning - The Fossil Lady. This is a short film about the famous palaeontologist Mary Anning and her fabulous fossil finds, adapted especially for Unearthed by Fife-based Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre. Nicola Wilson, OnFife’s Head of Cultural Heritage and Wellbeing, said: “These new additions to Unearthed are very exciting and we are delighted to have them on display for the first time. “I would urge anyone who hasn’t already seen this wonderful exhibition – and even those who have – to take the time to go and see it in Dunfermline.”
Unearthed is at Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries from 21 March to 6 September. Admission is free and more details, including opening hours and accessibility, can be found on the DCLG page at www.onfife.com *The National Fund for Acquisitions, administered with Scottish Government funding by National Museums Scotland, contributes towards the acquisition of objects for the collections of museums, galleries, libraries and archives throughout Scotland.
