Collections search

Sitefind, beaker, Yoruba beaker, ivory, from Kingdom of Owo, Nigeria, 16th to 17th century, found Basing House, Old Basing, Hampshire, 1853
The existence of this ivory beaker was first recorded in 1853. It was found in fields close to Basing House and , not surprisingly, has been associated with that place. It must be said, however, that the circumstances of its discovery are not clear. Considerable areas were disturbed by the digging of the canal and building of the railway in the late 18th, early 19th centuries, as well as the usual farming activities, but an exact provenance is elusive.
The ivory cup is carved from an elephant’s tusk: it is decorated in low relief with stylised zoomorphic designs. It comprises a cylindrical container standing on a circular base decorated with small open cylinders, a characteristic it shares with a number of similar objects held in other museums. Through its style, form and iconography, its place of manufacture can be identified as Owo, a city state of the Yoruba kingdoms in Nigeria. The exact date of its creation is uncertain, but is most probably the 17th or 18th century. It is just possible therefore, that the cup may have reached Basing before the Civil War, and its battered condition would be appropriate if it was present at the storming of the House. There is no clear evidence, however, that any of the similar vessels found their way to Europe before the 19th century. Considering the uncertainty surrounding the provenance and dating of the beaker, we cannot say for definite that it was in the House at the time of the siege.

Sitefind, Romanblue cast glass gem depicting a seated philosopher, part of the Silchester Hoard found by metal detector at Silchester, Hampshire, 1985-1987.

Sitefinds, Roman lamp, from excavation over two years on this Roman Villa in 2005 and 2006, Dunkirt Barn, Abbotts Ann Roman Villa, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire
The lucky lamp – the raised bump at the back is probably the vestige of a handle and the smaller bumps at the sides, echoes of decoration.
The lucky lamp – the raised bump at the back is probably the vestige of a handle and the smaller bumps at the sides, echoes of decoration.

Sitefind, Roman small one handled Samian flagon in Central Gaulish Lezoux ware, with reconstructed handle. The form is uncommon but is probably of Antoinine date of around mid 2nd century, found in Pit II.13, layer 32. Excavations by Mary Oliver in 1965 prior to building at Oakridge revealed a large site with pits, enclosure ditches, field boundaries and a well. Occupation may have been continuous from the early Iron Age to the 4th century AD. The early Roman well was excavated to its total depth of 26.67m (87'6''). The shaft contained all kinds of material suggesting a ritual backfilling for the feature as well as the dumping of rubbish.excavated Oakridge II Estate, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Made in central Gaul during the antonine period, mid 2nd century an old object when placed in the grave form Dragendorff 31 This is a well-known style of early Roman ware – a samian dish. These glossy ...

This is a rare and important survival of a Christian devotional object dating from the early 14th century. It was unearthed in the “Nun’s burial ground” at Romsey Abbey during excavations by ...