Archaeology

Most of these artefacts were unearthed at two key excavation sites in the local area and they offer a fascinating glimpse into how our early ancestors lived and worked.

The collection includes some great examples of Bronze Age metal tools, such as axes and spearheads, as well as more decorative items like brooches and shawl fasteners.

Bronze Age Ballycroghan swords

One of the real treasures of this collection are the Bronze Age Ballycroghan swords, which were discovered by a farmer called Mr Patterson while ploughing his fields on the outskirts of Bangor in 1949. Dating back to around 500BC, the swords demonstrate the different stages of weapon production throughout the Bronze Age period and are a wonderful addition to the museum.