Archaeology

The whole city of Southampton contains a wealth of archaeological remains, both on dry land and underwater. Below the modern streets can be found evidence of prehistoric hunter-gatherer and farming communities, the Roman settlement of Clausentum, the middle Saxon town of Hamwic, and the late Saxon and medieval town and villages that laid the basis for the modern city and suburbs. Some ancient walls and buildings survive above ground. The complex picture is constantly being amended and elaborated as a result of further archaeological investigation. Follow the link below for more information about Southampton from prehistoric to post-medieval times.

Southampton City Council provides a variety of archaeological services, including the curation and display of the city's archaeological collections, archaeological fieldwork, archaeological input into development control, and the maintainance of the Southampton Historic Environment Record (formerly the Sites and Monuments Record). Follow the links below for further information about these services (some links will take you to different parts of the web site).

Southampton from Prehistoric to Post-Medieval Times

Southampton from Prehistoric to Post-Medieval Times

God's House Tower Museum of Archaeology

Welcome to Southampton's Museum of Archaeology. The museum displays artefacts from prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval Southampton.

Opening times:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-4pm
Sunday: 1pm-4pm

Archaeology Unit

Southampton City Council's Archaeology Unit conducts archaeological work in Southampton and the surrounding area.

Historic Environment Record

The Historic Environment Record (HER) is a database of archaeological sites, monuments and find spots, and other aspects of Southampton's historic environment, such as listed buildings, locally listed buildings, scheduled monuments and historic parks and gardens. The HER may be consulted free of charge by members of the public, developers, archaeological contractors, researchers, and students. (The HER was formerly known as the Sites and Monuments Record.)

Planning Archaeology

For advice on the archaeological implications of proposed development.

Archaeology Object Database

Access to information on small finds (identifiable objects) within the archaeology collection.

Loans, donations and requests for archaeological collections

Loans out objects for display or research. Provides safe storage of archaeological objects that will be made accessible to the widest audience.

Young Archaeologists' Club (YAC, Southampton Branch)

Love archaeology? If you’re aged 8 – 16 why not join your local branch of the Young Archaeologists’ Club. It’s run by Southampton Archaeology Unit and meets ten times a year to investigate the past.