In the world of archaeology, the word ‘collections’ often brings up images of stores full of pottery and bones. Gleaming trays of coins and beads and still-sharp looking weaponry. All the wonderful artefacts which make up our museum exhibitions, and which so are so visibly discovered throughout the excavation season here at Vindolanda.

However, there is another, different type of collection which exists alongside these objects: archives. Behind every archaeological site is the paperwork which allowed the excavation to take place, the photographs of artefacts being found and the notes and research of the people undertaking these excavations. This material documents the practice of archaeology, recording our modern interaction with archaeological sites and ensuring that this work remains contextualised long into the future.

It is this type of collection, the archives of Hadrian’s Wall, which our current Archives Revealed funded project seeks to uncover. For more information about the wider project and partners, see the first blog in this series here.

Over the next two years, the project team will be working to make five different archive collections accessible to the public.

Please note: All five of these archives are closed to access requests for the duration of the project, in order to allow cataloguing to take place. However, once the project is complete [in April 2028], please contact each archive’s holding organisation to enquire about accessing the collections.

The Archive of Eric Birley

Eric Birley (1906-1995) was one of the first Roman Frontier archaeologists, founder of Durham University’s Archaeology Department and Vindolanda’s first modern excavator. The archive contains material relating to his work across Hadrian’s Wall and the wider Frontier, including photographs, research notes and correspondence with a number of other significant archaeologists of the time.

This collection is held by The Vindolanda Trust.

The Archive of Eric Birley

The Archive of the Oswald-Plicque Reference Collection

This archive accompanies the Oswald–Plicque artefact collection of Samian ware, originally assembled by Dr Alfred-Edward Plicque between 1879-1894. It was acquired by Dr Felix Oswald (1866-1954), before Professor Eric Birley purchased Oswald’s collection for Durham University in 1950. The archive provides context to Oswald’s analytical process and typological classifications, containing drawings of Samian forms, stamps, and motifs, often including handwritten notes.

This collection is held by Durham University’s Museum of Archaeology.

The Archive of the Oswald-Plicque Reference Collection

The SANT Photographic Archive of Hadrian’s Wall

This archive contains photographs of numerous sites along Hadrian’s Wall, taken in the early 20th century by members of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, one of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious archaeological societies. These images complement Northumberland Archives’ catalogued collection of Hadrian’s Wall photographs by J.P. Gibson(1838-1912) the Vindolanda Trust’s by Charlie Anderson (1909-1998).

This collection is held by North East Museums (Great North Museum: Hancock).

The SANT Photographic Archive of Hadrian's Wall

The Archive of Beryl Charlton

Beryl Charlton (1938-2021) was a Northumberland-based Roman archaeologist, whose research focused on Hadrian’s Wall and the wider archaeological landscape of the North East. This archive contains material relating to her work, especially within the Otterburn area. 

This collection is held by North East Museums on behalf of The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

The Archive of Beryl Charlton

The South Shields Roman Fort Archaeological Archive

This archive relates to historical excavations at Arbeia South Shields Roman Fort which took place between 1949 and 1983, including drawings, photographs and paperwork. It complements research into the 1875-1881 excavations, which has already taken place in 2025 for the 150^th anniversary of the start of excavations.

This collection is held by North East Museums (Arbeia South Shields Roman Fort).

 

The South Shields Roman Fort Archaeological Archive

 

The Archives Revealed programme is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Archives.