Information on Harborough

2,000 year old dog returns to guard treasure!

Posted on 25/01/11

Leicestershire Councty CouncilCommunity Services

25 January 2011

2,000 year old dog returns to guard treasure!

A two thousand year old dog that was sacrificed and buried to guard the Hallaton Treasure will go on display for the first time at Harborough Museum in Leicestershire. Visitors can catch a first glimpse of it when it goes on display at the museum on Saturday 29th January.

The Hallaton dog was one of three large dogs whose remains were buried at the Iron Age shrine between AD 1 and 50. The skeleton chosen for display is from the second dog buried in the entranceway of the shrine and is the most complete. Until recently the remains were held at University of Leicester where they were studied and pieced back together by specialists at the University of Leicester Archaeological Services. The dog bones will be housed in a specially designed case located in the entranceway to the Hallaton Treasure Gallery, imitating the location of the dog burial at the shrine.

It is thought likely that the dog was sacrificed and buried at the site by members of the Corieltavi tribe who lived in the area around Hallaton in the early 1st century AD. The dog was around the same height and build as a modern German Shepherd and was quite old by the time it died. It was above average height for an Iron Age canine and this has led to speculation that it was a guard dog buried to safeguard the shrine and its treasures which included over 5000 Iron Age and Roman coins, a Roman cavalry parade helmet and other mysterious silver objects.

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Councils Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities said:

"It is fitting that the remains of this dog be reunited with the magnificent objects from the Hallaton Treasure and find a new home at the award-winning Harborough Museum. The dogs story is yet another intriguing aspect of this nationally important find and illustrates the special relationship between humans and dogs that has existed for thousands of years."

Visitors to the Museum on Saturday 29 January will be the first people to view the dog on display. On this day younger visitors will be encouraged to draw a picture of how they think the dog may have looked when it was alive. They can also draw a picture of their pet and add it to the Museums Pets Corner which celebrates our pets and what they mean to us. Older visitors can print out a picture of their pet at home and bring it in to add to Pets Corner. There will also be the chance to vote on a new name for the Hallaton dog to welcome it to the Museum.

A week long event, Have You Seen This Dog? starts on Saturday 19 February when the fun continues with a selection of free canine crafts and activities.

For further details about the Treasure Project and Harborough Museum, see the following background details.

For more information about Harborough Museum and the Southeast Leicestershire Treasure Project, please contact Helen Sharp, Project Officer, at Harborough Museum, on 01858 821087 or email helen.sharp@leics.gov.uk or Zara Matthews, Keeper of Harborough Museum, also on 01858 821087 or email zara.matthews@leics.gov.uk

Harborough Museum is operated in partnership by Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council and the Market Harborough Historical Society.

Harborough DogHarborough Dog

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