Search our Archaeological collection

The database was last updated on 06 May 2008.

The Archaeology Object Database is a catalogue of all the identifiable objects (also known as small finds) in the Archaeology Collection, objects found on excavations in Southampton and also those donated to the museum. The range of objects includes coins, jewellery and other personal items, containers and tools. The types of material these objects are made from include flint, fired clay, glass, bronze, iron and precious metals, wood and worked bone. The objects date from prehistoric times to the 19th century. The bulk finds such as animal bone, brick, building stone, pottery, slate and tile are not included.

Over 15,000 objects have been catalogued so far, and they represent a fabulous resource for the study of ancient Southampton. The Curators in the museum use the Database to answer queries and guide research. You can use the Database to find out more about what has been found here, and to get an idea of the quantity and variety of the archaeological finds we recover.

Search for anything you like; all gold objects for instance, or all Saxon pins, or all finds from a particular excavation. You can even search for objects found near your house! Instructions will appear on the screen once you start the program.

The Archaeology Object Database was created through funding from the Designation Challenge Fund, administered by Resource, the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries.

Use the form below to select your required search criteria. If you do not enter/select a value for a particular field, it will not be included in the search. For more help on a particular field, click on the name of the field.

Tips for a successful search

• You don't have to search on every field. For the best results, only specify a value for the fields which are important to your search and leave the rest blank.
• If you are searching for a particular group of objects, search for the singular name (eg: Looking for 'Brooches'? Search for 'Brooch'!)
• If you are searching for general terms, try entering them in the Keywords field only, with multiple items separated by commas. Any words entered in this field are checked against all fields of the database.

Looking for more information?

This database is designed for searches of our collections. If you would like a detailed list of objects please contact us for further information.