Keyword search

Think of a word to do with history or archaeology and enter it into the empty search box.

Try a search with the word castle in the search box.

The results come up at first with one summary line describing the site, and whether the site is a building, landscape, findspot or archaeological site (called a 'monument'), the site name and the reference number. Find the record for Buckingham castle. Click on the record to see more information about the site.

First you get the reference number, summary and if the site is protected. Underneath is a map showing the location. Next the record lists the date of the site and what it is classed as: in this case, a medieval castle, a possible farm in the sixteenth century and a bowling green in the seventeenth century. Underneath this comes the description, which in this case describes the building and some excavation that has taken place there. The numers in brackets refer to the books and reports where the information has come from, which are listed below. You can also see the grid reference and parish. Next are any related records, which may include different interpretations of what the site is. In this case the castle is related to records for the medieval motte, chapel, and walls. No artefacts have been found so there are no associated finds records, but there is an associated archaeological activity, in this case a watching brief. Thumbnails of attached images are below. If you click on one of these, a larger image opens in a new window.

Answer these questions from the rest of your results. 

1. Where is the fake medieval castle, built in 1769?
2. What is the name of the earth mound that castles were built on?
3. When was the castle in Weston Turville built?
4. The earthworks at Brill are not necessarily of a castle. What are the other suggested functions?

Advanced search

This search lets you choose what time period, place and type of archaeological site or object you are looking for. You can choose something from just one drop-down list or a combination of two or more. Do this search: choose Saxon from the Time period list and inhumation cemetery in Site type. When your results come up you can click on 'Map' at the top of the results list to see the locations. Answer these questions:

1. Where are most of the cemeteries?
2. Click on the dots on the map. Which parish has the most Saxon inhumation cemeteries?
3. Find the record with the most images. You may need to go to other pages of the results. Where is the cemetery?
4. Look at the images attached to this record. Where were the two saucer brooches found?
5. Approximately how many burials were found in Chepping Wycombe? Why don’t we know much about them?
6. Three burials were found in Ellesborough. How were they found? Name two artefacts found with the burials.

Click the Clear button to clear your search reults. Now try some other searches to find records for sites that are Scheduled Monuments. Choose villa as the Site type, and Roman in the Time period drop-down list. Click the Entirely within button. Run the search and answer the following questions: 

1. Name three parishes with scheduled Roman villas. (A Scheduled Monument is protected by law against damage).
2. Find the villa in Hambleden excavated in the early twentieth century. What is it called?
3. How many infant burials were found at the villa in Hambleden?
4. Change the Site type to barrow but keep Roman as the Time period. When were the Roman barrows in Thornborough excavated? What was in the burial chamber?

Go back to find more Archaeological skills and concepts.