Rituals, Hoards and Helmets

Hallaton Museum

Hallaton Museum proudly launched their new exhibition, Rituals, Hoards and Helmets, with an event last Saturday.

The new exhibition tells the story of how local people found this highly significant Iron Age hoards!  Visitors can learn how the hoard was discovered by community archaeologists and how the finds were processed in partnership with the County Council’s Archaeology Team, the University of Leicester and the British Museum. Visitors can see examples of the pig bones found on site, and find out what the tiny silver coins look like. Digital photo frames showcase images of the objects discovered on site.

Visitors can also have their photo taken in a replica helmet, believed to be similar to the one found on site, and have this printed as a postcard to send to their friends! Children (or adults!) can also learn how archaeologists work and try their hand at reconstructing a pot from a number of sherds, and search for the pig bones in the museum’s floor!

Visitors can also pop to the Fox Inn in Hallaton to see the museum’s new showcase in the lounge of the pub which tells the story of the tradition of Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scrambling in the village.

The exhibition is part of a partnership project which will see a new major exhibition about the hoard open at Harborough Museum later this year.

Rituals, Hoards and Helmets was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Leicestershire County Council, Renaissance East Midlands, the Helen Jean Cope Trust as well as generous private individuals and the Museum itself.