Royal Cornwall Museum Exhibition
© 2012, Cornwall Archaeological Society
Registered Charity 1055654
The South West’s fascinating archaeology is coming to a museum near you
The touring exhibition, Treasures from the Earth, comes to Cornwall this March following successful
tours of Devon and Somerset. Its aims include inspiring people to get involved in archaeology and
returning artefacts for exhibition to the localities where they were found.
The work of local community archaeology groups is highlighted and Treasures from the Earth brings
together the contribution of museums, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Historic Environment Records,
individuals and societies to showcase the archaeology of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. It aims to
show the rich archaeological heritage of the area and inspire people to become involved in exploration
themselves.
The exhibition’s Cornish hosts are meeting this second aim head on, scooping the loan of not one but
two treasures from national museums. Penlee House Gallery is borrowing a fabulous Bronze Age gold
lunula from the British Museum. The lunula arrived safely and is now installed. Lawrence House
Museum; Launceston has negotiated the loan of a 13th century enamelled glass beaker from the Victoria
and Albert Museum.
The lunula was found in Penwith in 1783 and through an obscure and circuitous route was donated to
the BM in 1838. It was probably brought over from Ireland between 2300 and 2000 BC and is one of
only five lunulae found in Cornwall.
The glass beaker was excavated from the garderobe of Launceston Castle. Made in the Middle East or
Venice, it may have been acquired and brought back to England by Richard Earl of Cornwall when he
was on the Crusade of 1228. Richard owned Launceston Castle and spent Christmas there in 1259.
Bude Museum too is busy planning for the arrival of the show. It has teamed up with Cornwall
Archaeology Society and Cornwall Civil War Battlefield Project to involve local schools in recording sites
associated with the Civil War Battle of Stratton. Pupils will develop archaeological skills and contribute to
our knowledge of the battle.
Staff at the Royal Cornwall Museum are developing education activities based on the show but designed
to be used beyond the life of the exhibition to continue to inspire a new generation of archaeologists to
investigate their locality’s fascinating past.
The exhibition is the idea of the curators of archaeology at the Royal Cornwall, Plymouth City and Royal
Albert Memorial museums with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Renaissance in the Regions.
Over the past two years it has toured nine museums and been seen by over 12000 people.
‘It is a real partnership project, with not just objects but skills and resources being shared freely between
the participating museums,’ said Vicky Dawson, project manager. ‘Each host has customised the
exhibition in very different ways and a wide range of supporting events – from Roman drill to the
identification of Medieval pottery – has been organised.
The venues in Cornwall are
Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzance – 3rd March to 23rd May
Lawrence House Museum, Launceston – 25th May to 30th July
Helston Museum, 3rd August to 29th November
Bude Castle Museum – 3rd December to 28th February 2012
For further information about the exhibition, please contact Jane Marley, Curator of Archaeology and
World Collections at the Royal Cornwall Museum (01872 272218) or Vicky Dawson, project manager
(vickym@dawsonheritage.co.uk)
Vicky Dawson
19th March 2011
© 2012, Cornwall Archaeological Society
Registered Charity 1055654
The South West’s fascinating archaeology is coming to a museum near you
The touring exhibition, Treasures from the Earth, comes to Cornwall this March following successful
tours of Devon and Somerset. Its aims include inspiring people to get involved in archaeology and
returning artefacts for exhibition to the localities where they were found.
The work of local community archaeology groups is highlighted and Treasures from the Earth brings
together the contribution of museums, the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Historic Environment Records,
individuals and societies to showcase the archaeology of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. It aims to
show the rich archaeological heritage of the area and inspire people to become involved in exploration
themselves.
The exhibition’s Cornish hosts are meeting this second aim head on, scooping the loan of not one but
two treasures from national museums. Penlee House Gallery is borrowing a fabulous Bronze Age gold
lunula from the British Museum. The lunula arrived safely and is now installed. Lawrence House
Museum; Launceston has negotiated the loan of a 13th century enamelled glass beaker from the Victoria
and Albert Museum.
The lunula was found in Penwith in 1783 and through an obscure and circuitous route was donated to
the BM in 1838. It was probably brought over from Ireland between 2300 and 2000 BC and is one of
only five lunulae found in Cornwall.
The glass beaker was excavated from the garderobe of Launceston Castle. Made in the Middle East or
Venice, it may have been acquired and brought back to England by Richard Earl of Cornwall when he
was on the Crusade of 1228. Richard owned Launceston Castle and spent Christmas there in 1259.
Bude Museum too is busy planning for the arrival of the show. It has teamed up with Cornwall
Archaeology Society and Cornwall Civil War Battlefield Project to involve local schools in recording sites
associated with the Civil War Battle of Stratton. Pupils will develop archaeological skills and contribute to
our knowledge of the battle.
Staff at the Royal Cornwall Museum are developing education activities based on the show but designed
to be used beyond the life of the exhibition to continue to inspire a new generation of archaeologists to
investigate their locality’s fascinating past.
The exhibition is the idea of the curators of archaeology at the Royal Cornwall, Plymouth City and Royal
Albert Memorial museums with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Renaissance in the Regions.
Over the past two years it has toured nine museums and been seen by over 12000 people.
‘It is a real partnership project, with not just objects but skills and resources being shared freely between
the participating museums,’ said Vicky Dawson, project manager. ‘Each host has customised the
exhibition in very different ways and a wide range of supporting events – from Roman drill to the
identification of Medieval pottery – has been organised.
The venues in Cornwall are
Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzance – 3rd March to 23rd May
Lawrence House Museum, Launceston – 25th May to 30th July
Helston Museum, 3rd August to 29th November
Bude Castle Museum – 3rd December to 28th February 2012
For further information about the exhibition, please contact Jane Marley, Curator of Archaeology and
World Collections at the Royal Cornwall Museum (01872 272218) or Vicky Dawson, project manager
(vickym@dawsonheritage.co.uk)
Vicky Dawson
19th March 2011