Prehistory and the Romans 

In this gallery, located on the ground floor of Palace Green Library, we showcase objects that span 250,000 years of history. 

The family-friendly displays explore the Prehistoric and Roman past of the Durham region. 

The objects on display range from everyday items - such as dishes, coins, and glass bottles - to the rare and beautiful. Highlights include spectacular metalwork from the Bronze Age, Roman treasures retrieved from a murky riverbed, and the cremated remains of Durham City’s earliest known resident.  

Top 5 things to see in the exhibition:

1. Bronze Age hoards discovered in County Durham. 
2. Durham’s first resident 
3. The Lanchester Diploma, found by a metal detectorist and is the first complete Roman Fleet Diploma found in the country.
4. Roman objects found by two divers in the River at Piercebridge, including everything from coins and jewellery to furniture fixtures and fittings-and even a Roman razor blade handle featuring socks and sandals.
5. One of the new additions to the gallery; a rare Roman gold ring with green stones.  

Younger visitors will enjoy dressing up, and a trail through the gallery. They might even find some of our hidden roman solders!