BEDFORD MUSEUM

ARCHAEOLOGY

Bedford Museum is the official English Heritage repository for all archaeological excavations in the north of the county. It houses major archaeological collections, archives as well as individual finds. The collection covers all periods of human activity in Bedfordshire, from the era of the first inhabitants to modern industrial times. The collections cover the entire spectrum of human concerns from survival and artistic endeavour, to the beliefs of our ancestors. As such, it provides an immense resource for the study life in north Bedfordshire over the past 100,000 years. The collections to some extent reflect the fact that the river Great Ouse, which forms a focus for human activity in our area, has acted both as barrier and routeway.

Of particular significance in the collections is the material recovered during the excavations at Bedford 1967-77, which pioneered modern rescue excavation techniques in Britain. This material includes that from excavations in the Castle Lane area which is crucial in interpreting the Castle of Bedford, as well as the Saxon and possibly Roman origins of the town.

The collections contain many items of international or national importance, and include Palaeolithic tools from Cardington, Mesolithic material from Biddenham, Neolithic material from Fenlake and the ceremonial and settlement site at Goldington, a Bronze Age axe hoard from Wymington, the famous Celtic mirror from Old Warden and the collection of fine artworks from Felmersham, the collection of Romano-British industrial and occupation material from Harrold and Odell, the Roman treasures from Sandy, some of the earliest Saxon material in England from Kempston, the superb mediaeval gold reliquary from Ampthill, and the Renaissance gold ring from Lidlington are just some of the highlights.

The displays trace the history of the north of the county from the Palaeolithic to Medieval Bedford and feature many of these significant finds.

Selected References

Baker, D., Baker, E. Hassall,J., Simco, A. 1979 Excavations in Bedford 1967 – 1977 BAJ 13 309pps
Dawson, M 2001 The Prehistoric, Roman and Post Roman Landscapes of the River Ouse Valley (London)
Clarke, DL 1970 Beaker Pottery in Great Britain & Ireland (Cambridge)
Duval, PM 1977 Les Celtes (Paris)
Harding, P., Bridgland, D., Keen,D. and Rogerson, R. 1991 A Palaeolithic Site Rediscovered at Biddenham, Beds BAJ 19 pps 87-9
Kennett, D.H. 1976 Felmersham and Ostia :A metalwork comparison BAJ 11 pps 19-22
Myers, JNL 1969 Anglo Saxon Pottery and the Settlement of England (Oxford)
Spratling, M.G. 1970 The Late Pre-Roman Iron Age Mirror from Old Warden BAJ 5

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