The Clayton Collection : an archaeological appraisal of a 19th Century collection

Abstract

This thesis examines the archaeological material from Hadrian’s Wall within the Clayton Collection at Chesters, Northumberland. The Collection was formed through the work of John Clayton, antiquarian and landowner in the 19th century. His work took place at a pivotal time in the study of Hadrian’s Wall, as public interest was growing, access was improving, and the discipline of archaeology was developing. As part of a large network of antiquarians, Clayton excavated, studied and published his discoveries. After his death his archaeological estate was retained, and the Collection was moved into a museum in 1896. Despite being in the public domain for so long, the material has never been studied as a whole, or in the light of its 19th century creation. One aim of this thesis is to explore the 19th century context within which this collection was formed. Using published accounts, and archival letters and other sources, Clayton’s methodology will be revealed. He was not simply a ‘wall-chaser’ or ‘treasure hunter’, but often considered carefully the motivations for his excavation. Nonetheless, he was also a man of his time, with his methodology regarding the retention of material not meeting modern archaeological standards. The second thesis aim is to use the Collection to illustrate life on Hadrian’s Wall in the Roman period. The Clayton Collection will be considered in comparison with other sites on Hadrian’s Wall, as well as other sites in Britain and on the Continent. Case studies of certain groups of material will show that despite the lack of detailed findspots, the material recovered by Clayton can still provide information about Roman life, in particular at Cilurnum. Research throughout this thesis will show that despite constraints, the Clayton Collection can still provide answers to 21st century research questions.