Archaeology & Anglo-Saxon Collection

The Archaeology collection has Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo Saxon objects, including an Anglo-Saxon skeleton over 1,200 years old! Archaeologists have found jewellery, pots, swords, knives, buckets and tools in Croydon at Lion Green Road, Riddlesdown Road and Park Lane/Edridge Road. Croydon may even have got its name from the Anglo-Saxons. Some historians have suggested that it has come from ‘Croh denu’ which meant ‘crocus valley’ in the Anglo-Saxon language. 

There are 30 sites across Croydon that have been identified as Archaeological Priority Areas by Historic England. These sites are places of significant archaeological interest where new discoveries could be made. Croham Hurst Round Barrow, Riddlesdown Road and Farthing Down are viewed as some of the highest priority sites in the area. You can read the full Croydon report of Archaeological Priority Areas by Historic England here.

Highlights of the collection include:

  • Anglo-Saxon skeleton from 670-775 AD found in the front garden of a family home in Riddlesdown Road, Croydon. A person’s skeleton is a unique record of their life, capturing information about their health, diet and social status. This Anglo-Saxon had evidence of healed rickets, which a report by Dr. Rebecca Redfern (Curator of Human Osteology at Museum of London) tells us this is the first case of residual rickets seen from this period - this tells us a great deal about their childhood health.

  • 18 coins from a hoard of 1903 of Roman coins found in Wandle Road, Croydon. More can be found at the British Museum.

  • Glass beaker, a rare find due to its good condition. The condition can be dependent on its burial environment and the composition/materials of the glass. Water is a main factor in deterioration as the wet earth can cause decay. Glass deterioration can speed up when first removed from the ground due to drying out, so immediate conservation treatment is needed. Sometimes it’s necessary to remove buried artefacts with the surrounding earth to preserve it longer before treatment.