This gallery displays a fascinating array of archaeological finds from the Swaffham area. Discover local pre-history and Swaffham's Anglo-Saxon past.
In the 1970s a Pagan Saxon cemetery was uncovered in Swaffham and some of the finds are on loan to us from Norwich Castle Museum.
Monique Slaven worked with us as a volunteer for many years until her death in 2018. She had spent over 20 years searching the fields around Sporle, with her metal detector, and her finds shine light into more than 2000 years of life in our neighbouring village. Take a few minutes in the Museum listening to a recording of Monique as she describes some of her finds. This excellent booklet The Sporle with Palgrave (Monique Slaven) Collection gives a brief historical journey through this fascinating collection.
One of the finest core stones found in the country was unearthed on Swaffham Heath. These cores were used throughout the Stone Age to create flint tools and weapons, some of which we have on display. We also have a 4600 year old red deer antler that came from the galleries of the Neolithic flint mines at Grimes Graves and which was used for digging the special layer of tabular black flint that occurs there.
In this room we also have the 16th century Communion Chalice, with its 19th century paten, from the ancient church at Houghton-on-the-Hill near North Pickenham and a Roman ring found in the hedgerow by the church together with a mourning ring to Robert Say.
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