HERoNI archaeological artefact collection
The Department's Historic Environment Division and its predecessors have been responsible for many of Northern Irelands most notable archaeological excavations.
What the collection contains
The associated finds, drawings, notebooks and environmental samples are a major collection under the care of the Historic Environment Record of Northern Ireland (HERoNI). Much of the material held in the archaeological collection comes from excavations carried out directly by members of staff or commissioned by Historic Environment Division since 1950. Prominent excavations include:
- Navan Fort, County Armagh
- Creggandevesky Court Tomb, County Tyrone
- Deer Park Farms Raised Rath, County Antrim
- Greencastle, County Down
- Kiltierney Passage Tomb, County Fermanagh
- Drumclay Crannog, County Fermanagh.
The archaeological collection includes artefacts and items dating from the Mesolithic period through to the post-medieval period. While many of the finds are on display in museums and heritage centres across Northern Ireland, the HERoNI collection includes thousands of artefacts such as pottery, glass beads, glassware, bog butter, log boats, and carved stone. Human skeletal remains recovered from excavation are also held in the collection.
Descriptions of the artefacts and human remains will be available online soon.
We make the archaeological collections available for examination and analysis by researchers (with academic affiliation or independent scholars) and for loans for exhibitions or displays. Our Access and Loans Guidance provides further information on broad principles governing loans and access.
Contact HERoNI to make a preliminary enquiry to access the collection.
Contact