Archaeological finds

The Museums Resource Centre is the principal store for all archaeological sites excavated or studied in Oxfordshire, apart from those situated on land belonging to Oxford University - in that case, and in several other special cases, the repository is the Ashmolean Museum.

Our collections

Collections include sites and objects from every period of human history - prehistoric, Roman, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval.

We also host archaeological finds and information from all the towns, and nearly all the parishes, in Oxfordshire.

Curator of Archaeology

Dr. Chris Ferguson
Tel: 01865 300557
Email:chris.ferguson@oxfordshire.gov.uk

What's found on archaeology sites?

We store many items found on archaeology sites. They include:

• animal bones and human skeletons, and things made of metals such as jewellery and personal ornaments, weapons, tools, vessels, locks and keys, and fittings for furniture and buildings
• precious metals such as gilt medieval brooches and spurs and silver chalices
• pottery, tile, glass, flint, stonework and building materials
• handmade objects of wood, ivory, and recycled animal bone
• bags of slag and soil samples.

What can these archaeological finds tell us?

Site collections give us the information we have about the county's natural environment and developing landscape from thousands of years ago to the present.

We find out about its wildlife, farms and gardens, settlements, houses and furniture, the food eaten, the cooking methods, everyday clothes, transport and occupations, and even games and toys.

Archaeological sites

Types of sites range from neolithic ritual landscapes and bronze age cemeteries through iron age and Roman settlements and small towns, to Anglo-Saxon cemeteries and hamlets, later Saxon and medieval villages and towns, monasteries, markets - and of course, the University.

New sites include Eynsham Abbey - the medieval Benedictine Abbey of Eynsham is one of the most notable monastic sites in Oxfordshire. Excavations from 1989 to 1993 revealed an outstanding number of beautiful and interesting artefacts.

For more information and visits, please contact the Museums Resource Centre at 01865 300557.

Identifying archaeological finds

We are ready to assist researchers with our finds identification service run in conjunction with the Finds Liaison Officer.

Finds Liaison Officer and the Portable Antiquities Scheme

The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary scheme for the recording of archaeological finds made by the public.

Anni Byard is the regional Finds Liaison Officer covering both Oxfordshire and West Berkshire. Contact Anni Byard at the Museums Resource Centre or: 
Tel: 01865 300557
Email: anni.byard@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Download further information

• Archaeological Archive Transfer procedures (pdf format, 275 KB)