Discovery of Egyptian artefacts at Durlston Country Park

Egyptian Artefacts Found Among Dorset Arachnologist’s Collection

An extraordinary archaeological discovery in Dorset has revealed Egyptian artefacts of international significance hidden among the possessions of the late Dr Peter Merrett, a world‑leading spider expert.

Volunteer archaeologist Eddie J. B. Stirzaker has been cataloguing and organizing Dr Merrett’s scientific and personal collection at Durlston Country Park, uncovering objects spanning multiple cultures and centuries. Among the finds are items now believed to date to Egypt’s Old Kingdom period, around 2450 BC.

Dr Merrett, celebrated for his contributions to the study of British spiders, had broad scientific interests. His family gifted his “cabinet of curiosities” to Durlston in 2025, which included meteorites, Zulu assagai throwing spears, cannonballs from the Franco‑Prussian War, Neolithic axe heads, and Bronze Age arrowheads.

Connection to Pharaoh Khafre

Among this eclectic collection, Mr Stirzaker identified a group of items he believes are stoneware vessels and wall fragments from the temple complex of Khafre, builder of the second pyramid at Giza.

The discovery suggests an unexpected link between Dorset and one of ancient Egypt’s most iconic archaeological sites, offering a rare glimpse of Old Kingdom artefacts preserved far from their original context.

Egyptian artefacts discovered at Durlston Country Park

Expert Assessment Confirms Egyptian Origins

Mr Stirzaker explained his unexpected identification:

“I am not by training an Egyptologist, but a Neolithic and Bronze Age British Isles specialist, so far visiting and recording 583 stone circles across the United Kingdom. However, due to my earlier work at Kendal Museum, I recognised that these were Old Kingdom Egyptian artefacts, and that we might have a broken fragment from a wall in the Khafre mortuary complex.”

His assessment is supported by other items in the collection, including fragments of alabaster flooring consistent with material from Khafre’s temple, sections of green granite from Aswan, and the exceptionally rare Bekhan Stone from Wadi Hammamat—both highly valued by pharaonic artisans for luxury carvings and statues.

A particularly notable item is a lathe‑made alabaster bowl fragment. Specialists plan to digitally record and reconstruct it using 3D printing and AI technology, providing detailed insight into the craftsmanship of Old Kingdom Egypt.