The Central Saloon contains the Prehistoric Collections.
The South BAY illustrates the Stone Age in Britain: palï¾µolithic (chipped flint) and neolithic (often polished) implements, horn picks from flint mines at Cissbury (Sussex) and Grime's Graves (Norfolk); section model of the latter. North BAY. The Stone Age in foreign countries is illustrated in the gallery, at the end of which, next the 'down' staircase, are stone implements still in use among primitive races. The wall-cases on the ground-floor contain pottery from barrows of the Bronze Age, largely belonging to the Greenwell collection from Yorkshire and the north of England generally. In the tall central standard-case are remains from the lake dwellings of Switzerland. Table-cases in the north bay contain foreign specimens of the Bronze Age, British and Irish specimens being in the Central Saloon.
The Main Staircase descends from the west side of the Central Saloon. On its walls are sculptures from the Buddhist tope or dagoba (i.e. shrine) at Amaravati, in Southern India, of the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., representing scenes in the life of the Buddha.
The Roman Britain Room, on the east side of the Central Saloon, contains remains of the Roman occupation of Britain (43-410 A.D.). The Wall Cases on the north wall (left) contain lead coffins (used after 250 A.D., before which cremation was the rule), pottery, and fragments of sculpture, of coarse provincial work. In the Wall Cases on the south wall are inscriptions, mosaics, pottery, bronzes (mostly coarse work, but note the head of Hadrian from Winchester; Case 40), iron implements, glass, etc. At the south-west corner, Milestone inscribed with Hadrian's name, and a mill-stone. The Table Cases contain ornaments, implements, weapons, etc. In the centre, Large bronze head of Hadrian found in the Thames; helmet with mask; statuette of an emperor.
