Highlights of the collections

We collect archaeological material from within the present city boundary. Most of our collection comes from archaeological fieldwork carried out through the planning system, but we also collect objects found by people gardening, walking their dog or using their metal detector.

Highlights of the collections:

• Large numbers of prehistoric stone tools recovered during quarrying in the river gravels in the 19th century.

• A hoard of Bronze Age axe heads found during building work in Bitterne in 1894.

• Examples of prehistoric pottery shards found on a number of excavation sites in the city.

• Roman objects recovered from the site of Clausentum throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Finds and records of a Roman warehouse which was burnt down between 170 and 190 AD, destroying a stock of Samian pottery.

• A hoard of over 4000 late 3rd century Roman coins found during building work at Millbrook.

• Extensive evidence of the Middle Saxon town of Hamwic, recovered during continuing work in the Northam and St Marys areas of the city.

• An important group of Saxon objects from the pagan Saxon cemetery excavated on the site of St Marys Football Stadium.

• Evidence of steel manufactured in Saxon Hamwic, of a quality not produced again until the industrial revolution.

• Imported pottery, glass and metalwork demonstrating the wealth and trading contacts of Southampton’s medieval merchants.

• Imported pottery and glass excavated from the home of Roger Machado, a late 15th century diplomat and merchant.

• A group of late 13th century finds recovered from a waterlogged cess pit in the house of Richard of Southwick on Cuckoo Lane.