The Lost Mosaic: Cirencester’s Roman Marine Masterpiece The Corinium Museum is renowned for its exceptional collection of Roman mosaics, particularly those from Corinium Dobunnorum (modern Cirencester). Among the highlights is the 2nd-century Seasons Mosaic, discovered in 1849 on Dyer Street. This masterpiece (below) features intricate details, such as wheat kernels in the headdress of Ceres […]
As schools and families officer here at the museum and a member of the local community, I get a lot of feedback from friends about the museum. One of the most frequent phrases is, ‘oh we haven’t been there in ages.’ So, full disclosure, I love museums. All museums. This concept of not visiting with […]
In the store, in a windowless room, on a metal shelf, in a cardboard box labelled 37, amongst tissue, lie a selection of pattens. They mostly have wooden soles with iron rings attached (and sometimes detached), and some still have their leather strap across the toe and a short lace. Pattens were protective overshoes […]
There are many Neolithic long barrows in the Cotswolds, a number of which have been reconstructed and are available for the public to visit. Neolithic long barrows are chambered tombs dating anywhere from around 3,700 BC to 3,000 BC, so most were constructed more than 5,000 years ago. The dead were placed in these tombs […]
Today, the Corinium is marking Carbon Literacy Action Day. The event on November 14th aligns with the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 29, in Azerbaijan. You may be wondering why a museum is involved in this. Why is this relevant? Well, it is something that our sector takes very seriously, not only […]
At all times the Corinium Museum stores artefacts that are too remarkable to remain unseen by the public. Ideally, these objects would be on display, but redisplays take time and usually require fundraising efforts. The recent National Lottery Heritage-funded redisplay of the prehistory gallery has left little space for the newly donated objects. As we […]
The Spatha swords are back at the museum and they are better than ever! They have been at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham undergoing important conservation work for the past three months. When they first arrived at the museum last year, they were still covered in […]
Communication has been vital for the spread of ideas, knowledge and news since human history began. Written communication has allowed these ideas to spread not only person to person, but technological advances have meant that knowledge and ideas have spread far wider, changing our perception and even, at times, the way we live. Today, the […]
There are few types of artefacts as widespread and ubiquitous as coins. In P.J. Casey’s book Roman Coinage in Britain, he estimates that second-century Roman armies in Britain would have been paid at least 6,750,00 million denarii a year, creating a constantly changing a growing base of physical evidence for historians, archaeologists and curators to […]
The shopkeeper stared in disbelief at the silver coin in his hand. A gleaming denarius, fresh from the Roman mint. He picked it up between his thumb and forefinger to inspect it more closely. Even without the letters proclaiming a name and title, the portrait was unmistakable. The high cheekbones, wrinkled neck, and piercing gaze. […]
