The Lawrence Room at Girton College: Discovery and rediscovery

The Lawrence Room, the museum collection of Girton College, bears witness to several stages of archaeological discovery. The discovery of a late Roman and early medieval cemetery in the College grounds in the 1880s, yielding pottery, glassware and grave goods, continues to be reinterpreted by recent research. The Mediterranean collection reflects the Victorian vogue for dainty Hellenistic terracotta figurines, called Tanagras after their original find site; the Egyptian collection, especially the portrait mummy, Hermione, reflects the feverish progress of Egyptian tomb digging led by Flinders Petrie in the early 20th century. Enigmatic ‘eye idols’ from Tell Brak, Syria, were discovered and donated by Girton Fellow in Archaeology Joan Oates (1928–2023). In the 21st century, the process of discovery finds itself under the spotlight as the provenance and ethics of museum acquisitions and displays are being questioned.

We want more Cambridge residents to discover this small, tranquil and eclectic museum. So, please pay us a visit, and then share your feedback and suggestions about how we could improve our displays. And before you leave, enjoy a coffee in the Social Hub and/or a walk through the College grounds, where the spring flowers should be at their peak.