Under the Library exhibition in Durham
LATE last month, Durham’s World Heritage Site Youth Ambassadors (YAMS) unveiled an exhibition
showcasing artefacts found in an archaeological dig by Durham University Archaeological Services
underneath the library building at St John’s College, Durham in 2017.
The exhibition, located at the site of the dig, opened for international World Heritage Day to help
shine a light on the historical significance of the Durham peninsula and to encourage curiosity about
the area. It has been a collaborative effort by the YAMS, a diverse group of like-minded young
people who are interested in archaeology and local and global heritage.
The exhibition, titled Under the Library – Rediscovering Durham, explores the artefacts
uncovered in the 2017 dig, touching on themes of continuity, consumerism and daily life. The
exhibition displays a variety of objects ranging from the prehistoric to the early modern period. The
prehistoric artefacts found on site push back the time of human occupation of the Durham peninsula
7000 years. We now know that there were people here in the Mesolithic period, a farmstead in the
Iron Age and occupation of the peninsula before the arrival of the Cuthbert community.
The Youth Ambassadors are a group of 30 young people (aged 12-24) who live locally together
with university students from different countries including China, Indonesia and Russia. From
diverse backgrounds, they share a common interest in heritage. The group co-created the exhibition
over five Saturday mornings.
The Youth Ambassadors said: “In a short space of time and in a relatively small exhibition space
we’ve identified the important messages we wanted to convey. We discovered how people in the
past lived, and how similar they were to us. We learned about archaeology and about the process of
creating an impactful exhibition. Next year we would love to dig if we were allowed to – maybe the
walls around the city”.
Anne Allen, World Heritage Site Manager said “The theme of World Heritage Day this year was
about how we protect our cultural heritage. Working together to a common purpose is key to that.
The young people modelled this brilliantly and revealed through the exhibition that globalisation
isn’t a recent phenomenon. People have been coming to Durham for millennia, trading goods – and
leaving behind their rubbish”.
Jolyon Mitchell, Principal of St John’s College said “It was wonderful to welcome young
archaeological ambassadors and their supporters to St John’s as they presented how they helped to
create the fine WHS Youth exhibition.
“Their enthusiasm for bringing the past back to life was infectious. It is so good to learn from both
their digital and the physical exhibits, uncovering some of the layers below the library, revealing
traces of everyday life over many centuries.”
The exhibition will be on display in the Learning Resource Centre at St John’s College for about a
year. It is also available online https://stories.durham.ac.uk/under-the-library/ It will be open to
visitors on 4 June as part of the College’s event Secret Gardens of St John’s, and for Heritage Open
Days in September.
St John’s College, Durham was founded in 1909 as a theological college and became a full
constituent college of Durham University in 1919. It is situated in the historic heart of Durham City,
on a World Heritage Site.
Home to around 950 undergraduate and postgraduate students— 270 of whom live in
College—St John’s supports academic excellence across all subjects offered by Durham University.
The College combines a strong sense of community with a culture of creativity, curiosity, and service.
Through Cranmer Hall, founded in 1958 as a distinct but integral part of the College, individuals
are trained in theology and for ministry in the Church of England and other denominations.
St John’s is home to several leading research projects and centres, including the ECLAS project –
Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science. Alumni include Alice Oseman, creator of the
Heartstopper books; Ben Medlock MBE, co-founder of SwiftKey; Bishop Libby Lane, the first woman
bishop in the Church of England; and Richard Adams OBE, founder of Tearcraft and Traidcraft.
For more information about St John’s College, visit https://www.durham.ac.uk/colleges-and-
student-experience/colleges/st-johns/
The Youth Ambassadors’ project was supported by Durham University’s Widening Participation
Fund, which is co-ordinated by the University’s Schools Outreach and Widening Participation Team.
