The collection comprises some 38,000 items, the majority of which is excavated pot sherds. The core of the collection, some 5500 items, is of local provenance. This in turn divides into approximate thirds, for Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval/Post medieval material. There is a small collection of Egyptology, acquired during the early years of the last century through subscriptions to the Egypt Exploration Fund. A large part of the Roman collection was derived from the excavation of the Roman Fort, at Ilkley.
