Treasure! Lost and Found Exhibition

Treasure! Lost and Found reveals the stories of objects once treasured, buried for centuries, then rediscovered – celebrating our fascination with uncovering the past.

Significant loans from some of Britain’s most prestigious museums will appear alongside pieces from Dorset Museum & Art Gallery’s own collection – several of which will be exhibited publicly for the very first time. Together, these objects illuminate the region’s deep history and the lives of those who once inhabited it.

The exhibition explores how these valued possessions – from ceremonial tools and ornaments to everyday items imbued with meaning – came to be lost and how they were ultimately brought to light again. Visitors will also learn about the modern processes that protect such finds: from archaeological recovery to the laws that govern their ownership and the technologies that continue to reveal new insights.

To help visitors engage more deeply with these finds, the exhibition features immersive digital experiences created by students from Arts University Bournemouth. These interactive installations allow visitors of all ages to understand the people behind the finds and engage with their stories in immediate and accessible ways.

The exhibition has been made possible thanks to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, lending museums, generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Mansel-Pleydell & Cecil Trust, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Fund, and The Headley Trust, The Robinson Trust as well as the archaeologists, landowners, metal detectorists, researchers, and volunteers who contributed their time and expertise.

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Treasure! Lost and Found Exhibition