Museum of Archaeology Collections

The main focus of our collections is the archaeology of North East England but the collection also includes national and international material, much of it excavated by members of Durham University’s Department of Archaeology.

Prehistoric

The Prehistoric collection covers a span of 250,000 years and contains over 1,000 objects, from tools used by our earliest Palaeolithic ancestors to everyday objects used

A coloured photograph showing several broken and complete bronze age swords and axes.

Ancient Greek

The museum houses a small but important Ancient Greek collection of around 700 objects, as well as copies of coins.

Roman

The Roman collection contains over 10,000 objects, spanning the period from 89 BC to 400 AD.

A coloured photograph of a number of objects found by divers in Piercebridge. Objects in the photograph include a spoon, scale armour, rings, coins, a fish hook, brooches and even the sole from a shoe.

Early Medieval

The small Early Medieval collection contains around 100 objects and covers the period from the end of Roman rule in Britain, through to the Norman Conquest.

The top of cross with carved decoration set against a white and black graduated background.

Medieval

The Museum’s medieval collections are impressive - containing over 4,000 objects covering the period from the Norman Conquest to the start of the Tudor period.

A large metal cauldron, with 3 legs and two handles and round body sitting in front of a graduated background.

Post-Medieval

The Museum’s collection of over 3000 objects spans from the Tudor and Stuart periods up to the beginning of the 19th century.