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Archaeological highlights from our Heritage Records

Sheep grazing around the standing stones at Avebury with autumn trees in the background in Wiltshire.
Sheep grazing amongst the stones at Avebury, Wiltshire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

The National Trust Heritage Records Online website is the easy way to discover more about the archaeology we care for. From buried remains to medieval buildings and industrial landscapes here are just some of the highlights from around the UK.

Anglo Saxon Burials, Sutton Hoo, Suffolk
Mound 1 at Sutton Hoo was excavated in 1939 by a team led by Basil Brown exposing a 90ft long ship with a burial chamber. This is thought to be the resting place of King Raædwald of East Anglia. More recent excavations in the area include a cemetery dated between the 6th and 7th centuries.
Avebury Henge Monument, Wiltshire
The largest stone circle in the world with other monuments within it, including a cove and two stone circles, surrounded by a huge henge bank and ditch.
Bronze Age beakers, Clumber Park, Nottingham
A chance discovery of two Bronze Age beakers, found near the lake, provide a glimpse into the long-lost prehistoric landscape of the area.
Cerne Abbas Giant, Dorset
An ancient naked figure sculpted into the hillside. At 180ft, it's Britain’s largest, and possibly best-known, chalk hill figure.
Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire
One of Roman Britain's grandest villas, including a 5th-century mosaic, two bath-houses and a water shrine.
Close up of the figure of 'Spring' with a basket of flowers in one hand a small bird in the other at Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire
Close up of the figure of 'Spring' with a basket of flowers in one hand a small bird in the other at Chedworth Roman Villa | © National Trust Images/Ian Shaw
Citadel, Dinas Emrys, North Wales
The ruins of a medieval tower at the summit of Dinas Emrys are recognised as one of the earliest stone castles in Gwynedd and connected to a famous Welsh legend of two dragons.
Croft Ambrey Hillfort, Croft Castle, Herefordshire
An Iron Age hillfort survives within the parkland of Croft Castle. The earthworks have been extensively excavated revealing both prehistoric and later Roman archaeology.
Deserted medieval village, Gunby Hall, Lincolnshire
A deserted medieval village survives as earthworks to the south of the main house. The village was abandoned many years before, finally being demolished probably at the time of building the present Gunby Hall in 1700.
Late Iron Age settlement, Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
Late Iron Age and Early Roman rural settlement at Lamp Hill on the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire. Artefacts discovered include a handle depicting a stylised male figure thought to be a Celtic deity.
Levant Mine and Beam Engine, Cornwall
Mining remains of the industrial past on the ‘Tin Coast’, which forms part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and includes a restored 1840s beam engine.
A view of the ruined engine houses, Wheal Edward and Wheal Owles, along the coastline at Botallack, Cornwall
Wheal Edward and Wheal Owles at Botallack | © National Trust Images/John Miller
Paviland Cave, Gower, South Wales
The most famous discovery at the cave, also known as Goat’s Hole was a collection of human bones dated to about 24,000 years old, known as ‘The Red Lady of Paviland’ (later found to be the bones of a male).
Ring fort, Limvady, Northern Ireland
The Rough Fort outside Limavady is one of the best examples of a Rath in Northern Ireland and one of the best-preserved in our care.
Roman remains, The Weir, Herefordshire
Riverside Roman remains, originally thought to be a villa or shrine complex but now interpreted as a bath house site.
Stonehenge landscape, Wiltshire
An ancient ceremonial landscape of great archaeological interest, including an internationally important complex of prehistoric monuments. The Stonehenge landscape is a World Heritage Site.
Ticknall lime and brick yards, Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
The remains of the lime and brick yards that survive within the woods provide a unique insight into the industrial landscape of the estate from medieval times to the 19th century.
The Windows of the gloriette at Corfe Castle

National Trust Heritage Records Online

Explore the entire Heritage Records Online website to discover more about the archaeology cared for by the National Trust.

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