News

Six Bronze Age shields have been brought together for the first time ahead of a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland this summer. Dating from 3300 to 3500 years ago, the shields include the only intact examples to survive from Scotland. 

Two spectacular stone altars from a Roman fort near Edinburgh have been acquired for the National Collection ahead of a major exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland. The rare carvings are among the finest examples of sculpture from Roman Britain and will go on display for the first time in Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire (14 November 2026 – 28 April 2027). 

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 7pm GMT, Wednesday 21st January 

A 410 million year-old fossil from Aberdeenshire in Scotland which scientists have identified as being a ‘new’ form of life, distinct from plants or fungi, has been added to the collections of National Museums Scotland. 

A unique rock crystal jar found as part of the Galloway Hoard has gone on public display for the first time. The Galloway Hoard: Rock Crystal Jar exhibition at Kirkcudbright Galleries, near where the Hoard was first discovered, will run until 14 June 2026.  

Scotland’s oldest known bagpipe chanter, a horn spoon collected by an Austrian aristocrat and an exquisite medieval rock crystal charmstone are among the Gaelic stories behind 15 objects in the collections of National Museums Scotland which have been published in a new bilingual online resource.

Tha am feadan pìoba-mhòir as sine ann an Alba, spàin adharcach a chruinnich bean-uasal às an Ostair agus clach-sheuna criostail-creige àlainn às na meadhan-aoisean am measg nan sgeulachdan Gàidhlig air cùl 15 nithean ann an cruinneachaidhean Taighean-tasgaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba a chaidh fhoillseachadh ann an goireas ùr dà-chànanach air-loidhne.

A unique rock crystal jar found as part of the Galloway Hoard will go on public display for the first time later this year. The Galloway Hoard: Rock Crystal Jar will open on 8 November 2025, at Kirkcudbright Galleries, near where the Hoard was first discovered.  

A fossil first spotted in Skye over 50 years ago has finally been extracted from the base of the cliff where it was found and, following analysis, formally identified as a Jurassic dinosaur.

Powder horns from the 17th to 19th century, a road sign from Skye and a handmade crogan, or earthenware pot, are among 100 objects to be reappraised in a new project which aims to reveal the Gaelic stories and connections behind material held in the National Collection.

On the eve of its unveiling in Adelaide on the first leg of an international tour, the first translation of a runic inscription on an arm ring from the Viking-age Galloway Hoard has cast fascinating new light on who might have owned the famous treasure. 

An important collection of photography and photographic equipment has been saved for the nation and allocated to National Museums Scotland under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. 

Game On 

29 June to 3 November 2024 

nms.ac.uk/GameOn 

Game On, the largest interactive exhibition of the history and the culture of video games, will return to Edinburgh next summer. The exhibition, featuring iconic characters and games ranging from Space Invaders to Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario to Minecraft, runs from 29 June to 3 November 2024 at the National Museum of Scotland.