The Museum of Archaeology, University of Nottingham

While visiting the Dinosaurs of China exhibition at Lakeside Arts on the University of Nottingham campus we decided to pop next door and visit the Museum of Archaeology, which none of us had been to before. Focusing on artefacts that have been discovered in the East Midlands, the collection is housed in a single room but well worth a visit.

First opened in 1933 when Dr Felix Oswald donated the finds from his excavations at a Roman settlement in Bingham, the museum’s interest is mainly on everyday items in the region, so lots of pots, coins and brooches. My favourites included these plates and this boot, showing the way the famous Willow Pattern, developed by English ceramic artists in the 18th century inspired by Chinese imports, has been adapted to modern objects.

Other interesting pieces were these coins from the Cuerdale Hoard discovered in 1840 which form part of the largest Viking silver hoard ever found and which date back to AD900.

Though my absolute favourite object was this mammoth tooth found in Girton.

You can find more of my photos of the museum here.