The Jurassic section showcases fascinating facts about that time period and features a large, immersive graphic of an Ichthyosaur that was discovered in 1982 during the excavation of Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes. In the Bronze Age area, visitors can explore artifacts from daily life, including metalwork and jewellery, set against the backdrop of a reconstructed roundhouse - the largest Bronze Age roundhouse discovered so far in Britain. In the Roman section, known as "Bancroft Villa," the area is designed to resemble a Roman villa and features a digital coin interactive. These installations include lighting effects and thematic set designs that provide a stylised context for the archaeological finds.
Additionally, the gallery showcases a beautifully restored section of the Bancroft Villa mosaic floor and wall paintings, along with a unique and engaging Timeline Coin-Wheel interactive display. This feature encourages visitors to explore Roman history through 74 different coins found locally, revealing intriguing stories about some emperors through fun animated on-screen displays.
The exhibits are closely linked to the villages surrounding the current Milton Keynes area, with narratives driven by extensive archaeological finds uncovered during the development of Milton Keynes.
We continue to work with Milton Keynes Museum to redevelop more areas of the museum. The public will be able to visit the Ancient Gallery from 25 January 2025.
