Two Bronze Age artefacts were among a collection of rare treasures discovered in Dumfriesshire.

Two Bronze Age artefacts were among a collection of rare treasures discovered in Dumfriesshire.

A spearhead that lay submerged in a burn for 3500 years was found wedged in a rock crevice in a burn at Mennock Water.

The artefact, which was in a "remarkable condition" when it was found, is now on display in Dumfries Museum.

A sword dating to 1150BC, discovered near Lockerbie, was also among the finds, according to the annual report of the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer.

That office, held by Norman McFadyen, is responsible for claiming objects for the Crown under the law of treasure trove.

Other discoveries included the fifth recorded medieval copper alloy macehead.

Ian Ralston, a professor at Edinburgh University who sits on the Treasure Trove panel, said: "Each discovery is an extra bit of information - an extra dot on the map.

"Two things the panel does are decide which museum the find goes to and what the payment should be to the person who discovers it. Most of them are museum-worthy finds and so the panel's job is vital."

A rare example of a lead pilgrim badge of St Andrew, probably dating to the 14th century, was discovered as well as a Viking hack-silver discovered in Fife. Both were allocated to the Fife Museum Service.

One of the more significant finds was a fragment of a Roman soldier's tombstone found by chance in a field near Carberry, East Lothian.

It commemorates a cavalryman called Crescens who served with the Equites Singulares.

"The tombstone dates to the period 140-180AD and Crescens appears to have died while accompanying the governor on a visit to the nearby Roman site of Inveresk," said the report.

"The stone is a highly significant find, being the first evidence of the governor's bodyguard in Scotland."