Archaeological collection

The archaeological collection comprises some 340,000 objects. The fact that all periods are well represented makes it a significant collection in terms of European Archaeology. While the earliest finds date back approximately 1 million years, the most recent pieces in the collection date from the Early Middle Ages. The artefacts that were donated to the museum in the 19th century were gathered together by private individuals. In the 20th century the museum enhanced its collections by mounting its own excavations. Since 1969/70 the Archaeological Service of Canton Bern has been tasked with carrying out excavations.