Archaeology | Hampshire Cultural Trust Online Collections

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We look after archaeological finds from fieldwork and excavations in Hampshire, including the city of Winchester. We also have many long-established collections and ‘stray finds’, including items reported under the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Archaeological archives from planned excavations

We are currently accepting archives from planned archaeological excavations, if we are aware of them prior to their commencement. To ensure that we can continue to store, care for and provide access to the collections we do make a one-off charge for archive depositions. For our Deposition Standards including charges please see here.

HCT_HCC_&WCC_combined_Archaeological_Deposition_standards_version_2_current.doc

Explore our archaeology collections

Additional information

The finds relate to all periods of the past in Hampshire, from the Palaeolithic to the present day, and are accompanied by archives providing various levels of supporting information. This can range from simple labels and letters, to a full technical description of the work carried out.

There are substantial displays of archaeology at several of our sites. The remainder of the collection is in store, where it is available for research and reference purposes by prior appointment.

Although many sites have been published as excavation reports, detailed documentation of the collections, to SPECTRUM standards, is an on-going process. The total of ‘significant archives’ held by the Trust, is now in excess of 1600 and it is by referring to these that students, researchers, or local people looking for local information, can tap into a valuable historical and archaeological resource.

Prehistory

The collections contain flint tools, stone artefacts, pottery, early metal objects and significant assemblages of stratified animal bone that fully reflect the existence and industry of our prehistoric ancestors. They themselves are represented by a range of skeletal evidence and a number of cremation burials. The largest single archive is the collection from the Iron Age hillfort at Danebury, near Stockbridge, subject of excavation and research from the late 1960s onwards.
Roman

For the Roman period the collections reflect the existence of two tribal capitals, Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) and (Venta Belgarum) Winchester, as well as high status villas and more lowly farmsteads. Finds range from mosaic pavements at Rockbourne and from Sparsholt (on show at Winchester City Museum) and Fullerton (displayed at Andover) to personal items such as jewellery and coinage.
Rockbourne Roman Villa has a particularly fine range of material, including what remains of a hoard of 7,717 late 3rd century coins, but is eclipsed by the finds from the tribal capitals. Venta Belgarum was the fifth largest town in Britain and is particularly renowned for the finds and skeletal remains from its extramural cemeteries. One particular burial featured in a 'Meet the Ancestors' programme and the reconstruction of his face, kindly donated by the BBC, is on show at Winchester City Museum.
Calleva Atrebatum has produced the wealth of evidence that one would expect from a Roman town site excavated in detail over the past forty years. Personal items, building materials, military gear and waterlogged deposits all contribute to a remarkably detailed picture of five centuries of occupation.
Other Roman finds reflect industrious crossroads settlements, isolated shrines, pottery kilns and high status rural burials which have produced striking finds such as the Selborne enameled cup, or a gaming board and a complement of over fifty pottery vessels.
Early Medieval

Hampshire is particularly well-blessed with pagan Anglo-Saxon cemeteries and these have produced some remarkable finds. The Alton buckle was made in Kent, long before being buried in the grave of a young male furnished with sword, spears and shield, while the Breamore bucket began its journey to the banks of the Avon from Antioch, in Turkey. The Winchester Hanging Bowl is another spectacular find from a young male grave, whereas the Monk Sherborne Frankish buckle turned up in the top of an ancient rubbish pit.
From 850 to 1150, Winchester was the birthplace of the English nation state, capital of England under Alfred and his successors. Its importance is demonstrated by the coins from the Winchester mint and the examples we hold of the celebrated Winchester art style.
Norman and Medieval

After the conquest, the city lost political and economic ground to London, but there are still many items of importance in the collections relating to its medieval occupants. Other smaller, but equally significant medieval collections exist from sites like Odiham Castle, and small towns such as Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Romsey and Wickham.
Ecclesiastical sites are well-represented, particularly in Winchester, but there are also finds and archives from Selborne Priory, Beaulieu Abbey and Romsey Abbey. From more rural locations the ‘lost villages’ of ‘Hatch’ (Brighton Hill South), Popham and Foxcotte, have produced a wealth of material including, from the former, the burial of a 13th century priest, complete with pewter chalice and patten.
Tudor to 20th century

Investigations on sites covering more recent history have also added significantly to the collections. Basing House, once a spectacular Tudor mansion, was destroyed during the English Civil War but excavations have produced an array of fine, if fragmentary material. Work in Winchester and many of the towns throughout Hampshire, has also produced quantities of building material, pottery, glass, metal tools and personal items that add to the picture of how these settlements developed.
Portable Antiquities Scheme

The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) records man-made finds over 300 years old that have been discovered by members of the public, and its network of Finds Liaison Officers would love to hear from you if you think you have found something!
Every year thousands of archaeological finds are discovered in England and Wales by people using metal detectors, out walking or sometimes just digging in their garden. By recording these finds we are contributing a huge amount of knowledge about our past and since the PAS started in 1998, over 600 research projects have been carried out using this data, from school projects to PhDs.
To record your finds on the PAS database, the Finds Liaison Officer will need to borrow them for a few months and will need a grid reference (or ‘X’ on a map) of where they were found.
Contact us.
Treasure
Items of potential treasure as defined by the Treasure Act 1996 must be reported to the coroner within 14 days of realising the object is treasure. Your Finds Liaison Officer can advise and facilitate the reporting of treasure.
Treasure is defined as:
- Objects over 300 years of age and comprised of more than 10% precious metal (gold or silver)
- Coin hoards
- Modified precious metal coins
- Prehistoric metal hoards
Archaeological finds essential do's and dont's

You must get the permission of the landowner, as well as informing them of any finds. In some areas you may be breaking the law by searching. If you find something, decide whether it can safely be moved. Ensure that associated evidence is preserved and the object is not damaged in the process.
If you are unsure, cover it and mark the place, then contact your local Finds Liaison Officer. Never clean a find without taking expert advice. You will need safe storage, recording, labelling and transport of anything you find.
You should also familiarise yourself with the Treasure Act which can be downloaded below. If you are metal detecting, please detect responsibly and in line with the metal detector's code of practice.
Download the Treasure Act 1996 via the link below.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c909cb19f5622360f3c14a…

Where to find these items

Museum of the Iron Age

Rockbourne Roman Villa

Westbury Manor Museum

Westgate Museum

Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery

Winchester City Museum