There are plenty of ways to get involved with the history and archaeology of Cumbria. Why not visit a museum or join an archaeological society?
Many Portable Antiquities Scheme finds can be seen on display at museums around the county (see the links that accompany the descriptions below).
Museums
The Dock Museum at Barrow-in-Furness holds an archaeology collection that includes the Neolithic Langdale axes, exciting cave collections from Heaning Wood and Kents Bank. The museum also features many finds made by local metal detectorists. The Dalton Roman silver bracelet is on display here (PAS-A7DC11).
Kendal Museum houses local and global collections including prehistoric artefacts such as Mesolithic tools from the Limestone Uplands of Southern Cumbria and a large collection of Neolithic axe material from the Central Fells, Cumbria. A vast collection of Roman material from a variety of Roman sites is also displayed. A number of PAS finds are on display here including medieval coin hoards (LANCUM-E19253 and LANCUM-30BA12) and Roman coin hoards (LANCUM-A7E363 and LANCUM-AFF497).
Keswick Museum’s archaeology collection has circa 200 items including local pre-historic worked stones and axes, Roman ceramics and coins, and medieval objects from key local sites such as Lords Island, seat of the Earls of Derwentwater.
The Museum collects and displays material reflecting the history and culture of Penrith and the Eden Valley. The collections are comprised of thousands of fascinating objects, including finds from the Roman period, mementos of Penrith’s local heroes and an extensive geology collection.
Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is located in Carlisle, housing collections that tell the stories of continuous change, from the earliest Cumbrians in prehistoric times to Roman and Viking invaders of Cumbria; the turbulent story of Carlisle in medieval times; its transformation from rural market town to busy centre of railways, industry and tourism.
Societies & Organisations
Cumberland & Westmoreland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society
Cumbria Industrial History Society
Cumbria Local History Federation
Cumbria Family History Society
Ambleside & District U3A Local History Group
Ambleside Oral History Archive
Bampton & District Local History Society
Cartmel Peninsula Local History Society
Eskdale & District Local History Society
Lorton & Derwent Fells Local History Society
Orton & Tebay Local History Society