The archaeology collection covers a wide a range of material from investigations on the early settlement of Suffolk to the Mediaeval period, concentrating on Ipswich and the surrounding area.
Many of the early collections relate to work published by the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia, later to become the Prehistoric Society. Implements include Abbevillian tools and other important objects from East Anglian palaeolithic type-sites, notably Hoxne, Foxhall Road, Barnham and Bramford.
Ipswich was one of the earliest recorded Anglo-Saxon towns and we have finds from the cemeteries at Hadleigh Road and Boss Hall as well as objects from the original excavation at Sutton Hoo. Other finds include Ipswich ware pottery and coins from the Ipswich mint c.970- 210.
Material from the Romano-British period includes kilns and associated pottery, and finds from a bath-house and Castle Hill Roman villa in Ipswich.
There are a number of Romano-British votive and religious artefacts from Suffolk, including the Icklingham pewter hoard, a lead font with unusual animal and human figurines, an Attis plaque, and the 'Cavenham Crowns'. Mediaeval artefacts include ceramics, silver coin hoards, and monastic excavations.
We have a small but significant collection from Egypt including objects excavated by Howard Carter and Flinders Petrie.