How Did Egyptian Artifacts End Up in Scotland?

(Image credit: National Museums Scotland)

It must have been a surprise when a Scottish schoolboy, who had been digging up potatoes as punishment, accidentally found an ancient Egyptian statues buried in the school grounds.

The first discovery happened in 1952, and for the next 30 years, about 17 other ancient Egyptian artifacts were uncovered under Melville House. For the past 40 years, no one knew how those artifacts ended up there.

Now, researchers think they have solved the mystery. Apparently, the former heir of Melville House, Lord Balgonie, had traveled to Egypt in 1856, and when he came back to England, he brought several antiquities with him.

Unfortunately, he passed away after he returned and his relatives decided to store the artifacts in a building outside the house. Years later, that building was demolished and the artifacts forgotten. As further developments on the property occurred, the artifacts simply got buried underneath.