A 10,000-year-old barbed spear point and mysterious spoons discovered near Oswestry will form part of a new gallery in partnership with the British Museum.

The artefacts are just some of many historic items that will go on display as part of a new tourist attraction at the Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (SM&AG), part of Shropshire Museums.

The joint working of the museums will create the UK’s first pre-Roman British Museum Partnership Gallery focusing on the national and international significance of Bronze Age Shropshire between 4,500 and 2,600 years ago.

Fay Bailey, manager at Shropshire Museums & Archives, said: “Establishing a partnership with the British Museum represents a significant moment, not only for Shropshire Museums but for the county of Shropshire. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the team at the British Museum and look forward to the development of an inspirational and inclusive display which deepens our collective understanding of this fascinating period of history.

"We are grateful for the support of the British Museum Trust and Arts Council England as we begin the first phase of our partnership.”

The Partnership Gallery, planned to open in 2024, will focus on redeveloping Shrewsbury Museum’s Bronze Age displays from the Ice Age to the Romans. It will utilise long-term loans from the British Museum, as well as displaying more of SM&AG’s collection.

Key objects will include three superbly well-preserved woolly mammoth skeletons discovered in a gravel pit near Condover, Shropshire in 1986. Dating from the end of the last Ice Age, these remains including an adult and three juveniles, are 12,800 years old.

The collection will also comprise over 1,000 prehistoric objects, including important finds such as the Porth-Y-Warn 10,000-year-old barbed spear point which is made from antler by hunters who pre-date the first farmers in the region.

High status Iron Age items such as the intricate Telford Torc (WMID-C53CB8) and the Claverley Stater Hoard (WAW-D64063), an assortment of North Eastern and Western gold coins rarely found together and dating to about 2,000 years ago will be displayed, as well as copper, bronze and gold tools, weapons and ornaments from as far back as 4,500 years ago.

And the mysterious spoons dating from the Iron Age (HESH-9A4B83) and found in Nesscliffe will also form part of the gallery.

Maria Bojanowska, head of national programmes at the British Museum said: “As part of the partnership, British Museum experts will provide curatorial advice on the redisplay, with skills-sharing and learning opportunities for both organisations. Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery will also have access to the Museum’s extensive collection of Bronze Age objects for long-term loans to complement the incredible objects on display.”

The partnership gallery follows the display of the Bronze Age sun pendant which has been loaned by the British Museum and goes on display at the Shrewsbury Museum on Friday, September 10 and will remain on display until Sunday, December 12.