Under the Library
Rediscovering Durham
In 2017, archaeologists uncovered a variety of artefacts at St John’s College. These objects, ranged in date from prehistory to the present day and included animal bones, pottery and metalwork.
This exhibition was produced by the Durham Castle and Cathedral UNESCO World Heritage Site Youth Ambassadors, also known as YAMs!
This collective of young people aged 12-24 years works to open up the World Heritage Site to more people, including through exhibitions like this one.
Meet the Youth Ambassadors and find out more about their work in this short video
Meet the Youth Ambassadors and find out more about their work in this short video
Scroll down to find out more about what was discovered in the excavations, including domestic objects used by people who lived here a long time ago for cooking, grooming, and everyday life.
Consumerism, as much as it is considered a new idea, has been present in our society for thousands of years. With increasing trade in the Roman era, Durham gained access to a wider variety of goods like oil, wine, and pottery.
Throughout time, trade and consumption have been vital to the economy of many societies, which is evident in the material culture archaeologists uncover.
This project is supported by:
"History is not all just about the Second World War and the Ancient Egyptians, we also need to focus on the fine details of our own local history too."
Niamh - YAMs member
Animal Bones
Many species of wild and domestic animal bones were discovered underneath St John's, which reveal the daily lives of people during the medieval period.
Many of the bones feature cut marks, suggesting that they had been processed for consumption. Little was wasted and bones were sometimes recycled and crafted into artifacts.
Scroll down to see what was unearthed.
Double-sided comb
This comb is made from animal bone and possibly dates to the 15th-16th century. This is a very personal object, and its owner would have used it every day to maintain their appearance.
Combs were used by all members of society. They could be elaborately decorated and made from costly materials, but this one is simple and inexpensive, possibly made by recycling a discarded long bone, like those displayed below.
Animal Bones
Animal bones reveal Durham's changing diet and economy.
At the St John's site, medieval people preferred cattle for meat and dairy, but by the post-medieval period they instead relied on sheep for mutton and wool.
Sheep horn
Core from an elderly female sheep's horn, 14th-16th century.
Notice the pitting - this is caused by malnutrition suggesting the sheep died during winter.
Horse femur
This bone is showing evidence of disease, which the horse survived with for some time, suggesting that it was cared for.
Interestingly, archaeologists observed a very low rate of disease amongst both livestock and companion animals.
Sheep Jaw
On the site there is an increase in sheep bones during the post-medieval period, suggesting people favoured mutton over beef and that they were keeping flocks for wool.
Drawing of jaw bone fragment, by Elizabeth
"It's amazing to think that right beneath our feet, there's all this history that people don't know about."
YAMs member
Pottery
A wide range of pottery ware was discovered on the site. The earliest sherds date back to the Roman period, but most sherds date to the medieval period. Most pottery was for everyday use and was produced locally.
Scroll down to see what was unearthed.
Footed Base
Ceramic, Cistercian ware
England, around 1450 – 1600 CE, Brown glazed Cistercian ware, possibly a cup base.
Pottery, 14th century.
Look closely and you’ll see thumb prints of the potter that made these finds around 700 years ago.
Jug handle, 13th-14th century
Assorted pottery sherds from the site, 14th-16th century
"My favourite part was opening up the boxes of all the finds, and we were the first people to get to do it!"
YAMs member
Metalwork and Glass
A range of metalwork and glass was discovered at the site. Scroll down to see what was unearthed.
Key
Iron
1450—1600
This rotary style key may once have opened a lockable chest. Locksmithing was very complex and usually only clergy and nobles could afford locks and keys.
Watch this short video to find out more about the key
Interlaced metalwork, estimated 13th century
Radiograph (x-ray) of the interlaced ironwork
What do you think this object is? Click below to vote in our mystery object survey!
Watch this short video to find out more about some of the glass which was discovered
Click the button to take part in our archaeology quiz.
Metalwork and Glass
A range of metalwork and glass was discovered at the site. Scroll down to see what was unearthed.
Key
Iron
1450—1600
This rotary style key may once have opened a lockable chest. Locksmithing was very complex and usually only clergy and nobles could afford locks and keys.
Watch this short video to find out more about the key
Interlaced metalwork, estimated 13th century
Radiograph (x-ray) of the interlaced ironwork
What do you think this object is? Click below to vote in our mystery object survey!
Watch this short video to find out more about some of the glass which was discovered
Click the button to take part in our archaeology quiz.
About the Excavation
The excavations were conducted by the Archaeological Services team at Durham University for the development of the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) of St John's College.
The finds from the excavation help enhance our understanding towards the lives of people on the South Bailey from the prehistoric to the post-medieval periods.
About the Learning Resource Centre (LRC)
In 2019, the LRC of St John's College was constructed on top of the excavation site. The Sir William Leech Library occupies the first and second floors of the building and is used by students and staff of St John's. The building also houses a lecture room and a seminar room.
The exhibition is open to library users and to the public on open days.
Our Story
In January 2025, we visited The Story at Mount Oswald, Durham and explored an exhibition entitled ‘Welcome to our County: The Children of Yesterday and Tomorrow’ created by Durham Youth Council. Some members of Durham Youth Council gave us a guided tour and helped us to explore ideas for our own exhibition.
We also began to open up boxes of archaeological finds that had been unearthed during the excavation process. Gemma Lewis, the Curator of the Museum of Archaeology at Durham University, told us about the finds and we asked lots of questions about their age, what they were made from and how they may have been used by people in the past.
Gemma helped us select which objects we wanted to display as part of the exhibition.
Next, we worked on developing our case layout. We experimented with different types of plinths and worked out where the labels would go.
We wanted to make sure that people could read the labels easily and see all the objects without plinths obstructing their view.
Another group started to write the objects labels for the exhibition. A third group designed an activity leaflet to go alongside our exhibition.
This was aimed at families with young children, to help them understand more about the objects and make the exhibition a bit more interactive. Making the exhibition and activity leaflet accessible was really important to us as a group, so we thought a lot about the design and had to choose the font type carefully.
We also spent a lot of time thinking about the colour and layout to make it appeal to children and young people, but easy to read.
After we decided on a title for our exhibition (there was lots of different suggestions!) we also worked with David Wright, an Assistant Curator, to make this digital exhibition.
We also wanted to include some interactives on our digital exhibition to make it more fun. Ailsa Duncan, the Learning and Engagement Team Graduate intern helped us make a quiz and some characters.
Some of the group captured video footage of the World Heritage Site, and some interviewed group members about their favourite parts of being in YAMs.
Watch this short video to find out more about what the YAMs enjoyed most about their project
Watch this short video to find out more about what the YAMs enjoyed most about their project
We hope you enjoyed our exhibition.
We’ve had a blast!
YAMs visiting The Story
YAMs visiting The Story
YAMs exploring the Museum of Archaeology Collections
YAMs exploring the Museum of Archaeology Collections
YAMs planning showcase layout
YAMs planning showcase layout
YAMs developing the exhibition design
YAMs developing the exhibition design
Built with Shorthand