A tour around the museums of Sussex: Celebrate International Museum Day with ASE!
20 May 2024
For International Museums Day, we took you on a digital tour around some of the museums of Sussex, showcasing the finds excavated by ASE that are currently on display. Follow along here, or use the #ASEspotted hashtag on our social media...
On Saturday 18th 惭补测听蹿辞谤 , we did a little bit of ASE 鈥渋n-the-wild鈥 photography on our , , and 听to celebrate the value of museums. Throughout the day, we spotted artefacts found by ASE in museum displays around Sussex. Here is what we found鈥
Horsham Museum 鈥 bone 鈥榩in factory鈥
Our first #ASEspotted came from听. Deposited in 2014, these animal bones are more than what they seem, and are actually part of a 15th/16th century 鈥榩in factory鈥. They鈥檙e involved in the production of copper pins (these are likely responsible for the green staining)
Heritage Eastbourne 鈥 Rock crystal whorl
Our second #ASEspotted shows the this beautiful rock crystal whorl on display at . Dating from 450-575BCE, this crystal was buried with an elderly woman, and refracts light fantastically due to its transparency.
Heritage Eastbourne 鈥 Brooches and beads
While you鈥檙e at , why not visit our third #ASEspotted?! These colourful glass beads and brooches come from the same Saxon cemetery as the crystal whorl. As well as visiting the museum to learn more, you can read on the excavation, the artefacts, and skeletal remains recovered.
Worthing Museum 鈥 Papal Bulla
Our fourth #ASEspotted is thanks to听. This papal bulla was excavated in St Nicholas鈥 Church in Angmering in 1974. At first glance it may look like a coin, but it is actually a seal for a document issued by the Pope, to prove authenticity and that the document hasn鈥檛 been opened. This one depicts St Peter and St Paul on one face (pictured), and Pope Boniface on the other. This suggests it was used between 1389 and 1404.
This papal bulla was actually excavated by our former selves, the Sussex Archaeological Field Unit! If you鈥檝e been following our #ASEat50 birthday celebrations, then you鈥檒l know we changed our name in the 90s from the SAFU to what we are today. Find out more about ASE鈥檚 50th anniversary.
Brighton museum 鈥 Early Bronze Age Urn
Our fifth and final #ASEspotted comes from . These four pottery sherds 鈥 excavated from Hangleton, West Sussex in 1976 - make up an early Bronze Age collared urn. This is on display in the Local History Gallery at Hove Museum of Creativity, and more can be found out in the 听
We hope you enjoyed this Sussex museum tour! Follow us on听, , and 听for more live content.
This is just a snapshot of ASE finds on display across the south-east, so keep an eye out for them in your area, and remember to visit your local museum!
For more information on International Museums Day, visit