Archaeology at Derby Museum

St. Alkmund's sarcophagus

During my investigation of mediaeval churches in and around South Yorkshire, I have often come across fragments of pre-Conquest crosses, in various sizes and states of preservation – with those at Leeds Minster and All Saints in Bakewell being the most memorable. 

A 10th century Anglo-Saxon carved slab

As a geologist, I am usually more interested in the stone than the geometric designs and figurative sculpture that are usually found on them, but I always like to see them. When at Derby Museum and Art Gallery, I was therefore especially pleased when I encountered the magnificent St. Alkmund’s sarcophagus. 

Fragments of Anglo-Saxon cross shafts

Carved out of a single block of reddish Derbyshire gritstone, it came to light when the Victorian St. Alkmund’s church – which replaced the mediaeval one – was demolished in 1968 to make way for a new ring road. 

An 11th century grave cover

Growing up in London, I was often taken to the Geological Museum on Exhibition Road – as well as the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, which is just around the corner on Cromwell Road. 

St. Alkmund's cross

With this very old fashioned perspective on museum design, as well as extensive experience of working with museums, as a consultant geologist - I particularly liked the way that the Natural History Gallery opened into the Archaeology Gallery. 

A 3400 year old boat made from a single tree trunk

Firstly noting the boat that occupies the centre of the gallery, I had a quick look at the rest of the exhibits, which include the Repton Stone from St. Wystan’s church - part of a large cross that once stood 4 m high and is believed to be dedicated to King Aethelbald of Mercia. 

The Repton Stone

In one of the display cabinets that I photographed, there is a fragment of a Viking hogback tombstone from the 10th century, which was fashionable with Norwegian settlers in Yorkshire and Cumbria but unusual for the Midlands. 

A fragment of a hogback tombstone

To finish, I photographed the display of Stone Age hand axes and scrapers implements before heading upstairs to have a very quick look at the rest of the museum – which was well worth seeing and deserves another visit.

A display of Stone Age tools