The archaeological collection of the Faculty of Arts

The Groningen Institute of Archaeology of the Faculty of Arts holds a collection of around 5,000 archaeological objects from across Europe. The collection was acquired by the former Biologisch-Archaeologisch Instituut in the period 1910-1962. The collection comprises objects bought from local collectors and objects from foreign institutes that were exchanged for Dutch antiquities. Because of its long time depth, the collection holds finds from well-known archaeological sites such as Bouqras, Carnac, Hallstatt and Spiennes. A new inventory is currently being made with the help of master students in archaeology resulting in a database and a series of research papers on selected objects (see below).  

Some of the objects from the GIA collection have been scanned and are now available as 3D models on sketchfab. The Geometric pyxis displayed here is only one example.

A Peschiera dagger from southern Germany

Lynne van Bruggen BA

A retouched blade from Northern Schleswig

Linda Kiers BA

A hunting-cup from Nijmegen    

Tamara Maliepaard MA

A Double-T Handled Knife from Appelscha

Coosje Koster MA

A more than 3000 years old Hungarian Griffzungenschwert

Esther Scheele MA

A shield knob from the Roman period

Isabel van der Velde MA

A comparison of two Bellarmine jugs

Folkert Westra MA