There are plenty of ways to get involved with the history and archaeology of Yorkshire. 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

 

Yorkshire Museum

The Yorkshire Museum was opened in 1830 by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and was one of the first purpose-built museums in the country.  The Museum houses five galleries showcasing some of Britain’s finest archaeological treasures and many rare animals, birds and fossils, in exciting displays.

Highlights include:

• Roman mosaic
• The Vale of York Viking Hoard
• The Bedale Hoard
• The Cawood Sword
• The York Helmet
• The Tadcaster Arm Purse
• The Wold Newton Hoard

 

North Yorkshire

 

Craven Museum & Gallery

Craven Museum & Gallery is located in Skipton Town Hall and tells the story of Craven through the ages. It is home to over 60,000 objects ranging from natural history to public archives including nationally important items, such as William Shakespeare’s First Folio.

Highlights include:

• An Iron Age sword
• Roman mosaics
• Painted wall plaster from Kirk Sink Roman villa
• Elizabethan silver coin hoard

 

Whitby Museum

Whitby Museum hosts collections of local fossils, natural history, model ships, carved jet, toys, costumes and social history. Many artefacts relating to the famous whaling family, the Scoresbys and also the explorer Captain Cook, are on display.

Highlights include:

• Ugthorpe Roman coin hoard (2007 T416)

 

The Rotunda Musuem, Scarborough Museums Trust 

The Rotunda Museum displays a variety of objects, from fossils found on East Yorkshire’s Dinosaur Coast to Gristhorpe Man, the skeleton and coffin of a Bronze Age man, which is the best example of a tree burial in Britain.

• The Hunmanby Coin Hoard

 

East Yorkshire

 

Hull & East Riding Museum

Hull & East Riding Museum is located in the attractive Museums Quarter and covers 235 million years of history.

Highlights include:

• The only dinosaur bones to have been found in East Yorkshire
• A life sized replica Iron Age village
• A Roman bath house
• Silver-gilt Early-Medieval mount
• Thwing Bronze Age gold penannular ring
• Cherry Burton Medieval gold finger-ring
• Driffield Roman silver coin hoard

The Treasure House

The Treasure House opened in 2007 and is the home of heritage and information services, providing access to museum, library and archive services. The museum displays an array of collections highlighting the geology, natural history, landscape and people of the East riding.

Highlights include:

• The South Cave Weapons Cache
• The Hotham Coin Hoard
• Iron Age swords
• The North Ferriby Ring
• Aldbrough Anglo-Saxon sword pommel
• Stamford Bridge Medieval silver-gilt crucifix (2010 T799)
• Bridlington area Bronze Age copper-alloy hoard (2013 T11)
• Bridlington area Bronze Age copper-alloy hoard (2011 T768)

 

South Yorkshire

 

Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre

Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre is dedicated to the history and people of the borough. It is an inspiring place for all the family to visit. Archaeology from all periods is on display, including Roman coins from Wombwell.

 

 

Doncaster Museum

Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery was opened in 1964 to display important collections of natural history, archaeology, local history, fine and decorative art. There is also a large and varied temporary exhibition programme throughout the year, as well as special activities for all ages.

Highlights include:

• The Cadeby Hoard of Roman bracelets and coins and additional bracelet (2010 T49)
• The Little Smeaton Hoard
• The Skellow Hoard of Roman coins
• The Stainforth Cross (2011 T113)

 

Clifton Park and Museum, Rotherham

The Museum highlights the history of the borough in a way that appeals to all ages and helps to bring both our lives, and those of our ancestors into sharp focus. It holds objects from our ancient geological roots, through Stone Age man to the modern day, displayed within the splendour of the 18th century Clifton House. The archaeology collection consists of around 36,000 objects, ranging from the Palaeolithic period to the Post-Medieval period.

Highlights include:

• The structural remains of the granary from Templeborough Roman Fort.
• Medieval gold finger ring (2015 T651)
• Roman pendant (2010 T573)

 

Weston Park Museum, Sheffield

The museum houses varied collections from natural history specimens to art and antiques as well as archaeology. Sheffield is the home of metalworking, so naturally the metalwork collection is particularly fine.

Highlights include:

• The Benty Grange Helmet
• The High Green Hoard
• The Clay Cross Crucifix (2015 T465)
• The Plumbley Roman coin Hoard (2012 T481)

 

West Yorkshire

Bankfield Museum, Halifax

A Museum since 1887, Bankfield tells the story of Halifax and Calderdale, using its rich and diverse collections.

Castleford Museum

The museum invites visitors to follow the history of Castleford from the Bronze Age to the present day. Discover why the Castleford area was a great and important meeting place for Bronze Age people and view a unique and special Iron Age chariot, as well as seeing artefacts from Roman Castleford.

Highlights include:

• The Ferry Fryston Chariot

Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley

Originally the home of Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, Henry Isaac Butterfield, Cliffe Castle boasts sparkling Victorian rooms,furniture, paintings, and decorative art. Special galleries deal with natural history, archaeology and social history, and the internationally important display of stained glass by Morris and Co.

Highlights include:

• The Stanbury Urns Bronze Age Cremation Burial (2007 T388)

Heptonstall Museum

You will find this welcoming museum in the Old Grammar School building. Many features of the building remain, including the original school desks and books. The displays focus on the importance of this charming village and surrounding area, from prehistoric times to the present day.

Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey House Museum, Leeds

Visit Kirkstall Abbey, a fabulous example of Medieval Cistercian abbey ruins set on the banks of the River Aire in Leeds and see artefacts discovered during the archaeological excavations of the site, and then cross the road to wander the beautifully created authentic Victorian streets for a glimpse of life in 19th century Leeds at the enchanting Abbey House museum.

Leeds City Museum

​With some of the best collections outside of London and a number of unique collections of national and international importance, Leeds Museums and Galleries are very proud of their collections.

Highlights include:

• The West Yorkshire Gold and Garnet Saxon Hoard (2008 T553)

Pontefract Museum

Discover the history of Pontefract with fascinating objects housed in a beautiful art nouveau building. The museum boasts the world’s first secret ballot box and a unique display of objects related to Liquorice. Explore the history of glass-making in the area from Roman times to the present day, with many items from the museum’s large collection of Bagley’s Glass on display.

Highlights include:

• The Ackworth Civil War Coin Hoard (2011 T428)

The Tolson Museum, Huddersfield

A vivid and intriguing picture of the area and its people, from pre-history to present day, revealed through unique collections. From Roman finds to textiles, birds to transport, Tolson is a treasure house of the fascinating, the curious and the amazing.

Wakefield Museum

See local cultural treasures and learn surprising facts about the city. Explore the history of Wakefield and hear stories of wealth and power, hardship and hope, love and war, and passion and belief through the eyes of the people involved in shaping the city. You will also be inspired by the amazing and beautiful objects that help to tell this fascinating story.

• The Stanley Ferry Log Boat