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DIG
York Archaeology fieldwork
Multiple locations, July-September, http://www.community.yorkarchaeology.co.uk
York Archaeology is offering two training excavation opportunities this summer. The first, taking place from mid-July to early August, will explore ‘School Green’ in York, which is believed to be the site of the 19th-century Hope Street British School and possibly a lost medieval church. In August, the ‘We Dig Wollaton Park’ project will resume in Nottingham, following on from excavations in 2022 and 2023, with a new geophysics course also available on this site. ‘Kids Dig York’ is back in York in August as well: a family excavation aimed at children aged 8-12 years. See the website for dates, prices, and more details about the excavations, and to book your place.
EVENTS
• Largs Viking Festival
Largs, Ayrshire, 31 August-8 September, http://www.largsvikingfestival.co.uk
Started in 1980, the annual Largs Viking Festival marks the 1263 Battle of Largs, the last mainland battle between the Scots and the Norse. Each year, the living history Viking Village opens to the public to offer a glimpse of life in a 13th-century Viking settlement, but for 2024 the timeline has been extended to include ‘Scandinavian Scotland’ (8th-15th centuries). Over two weekends, the event will feature an opening parade and ceremony, a full Viking and Scots village, a Viking longboat, a food and craft market, a fire procession, and much more.
• Burpham Big Dig
Burpham Village Hall, 10-23 August, http://www.wtm.uk/big-dig
This summer, Worthing Museum, in association with Worthing Archaeological Society, are conducting an exciting community project investigating the archaeological potential of West Sussex villages. The excavations will see 30 test-pits dug in the gardens of village residents; the digs themselves will be private, but for the two-week period members of the public can visit Burpham Village Hall to see what has been found and learn more about the processing of these items and the archaeology of the area. There will also be an official open day on 17 August.
EXHIBITION
Creatures of the Nile
Victoria Gallery & Museum, Liverpool, Until 5 October, http://www.vgm.liverpool.ac.uk/exhibitions_events_tours/special/creatures_of_the_nile
The Nile has witnessed the rise and fall of many civilisations, but the banks of the famous river do not just provide a home for people. The lives of animals, and the interactions between them and human inhabitants of the region, are central to the art, culture, and archaeology of the Nile Valley. This exhibition at the University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum explores the position of these animals in the ancient world, and how human activity in the region affected them. Entry is free.
SYMPOSIUM
Founding Worcester Cathedral
Old Bishop’s Palace, Worcester, 12 July, http://www.worcestercathedral.org.uk/whats-on/founding-worcester-cathedral-archaeology-symposium-2024
Worcester Cathedral is relaunching its annual archaeology symposium, sharing recent findings from the Cathedral. The 29th symposium will explore the remarkable results of the Undercroft excavations. Specialist speakers will present discoveries including evidence of Roman settlement and industry, the foundation of the Anglo-Saxon cathedral church, the interplay between monastery and Norman castle, and the medieval manufacture of bells within the precinct. Tickets cost £30 in-person (including tea and coffee, and lunch) or £10 to live-stream the event.
HERITAGE FROM HOME
VIRTUAL VISITS
• Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Canada
http://www.saskindigenouscollection.ca
Explore hundreds of artefacts belonging to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum’s Indigenous Cultural Heritage Collection with this new online catalogue, created in collaboration with regional Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers.
• Museo Egizio, Italy
https://virtualtourexgalleriadeire.museoegizio.it
The Museo Egizio in Turin is currently being refurbished, but a virtual tour of the Gallery of Kings, which houses large statues of ancient Egyptian pharaohs and gods, is now available online.
• El-Kurru, Sudan
https://tapestry.cyark.org/content/kurru
Take a virtual tour around El-Kurru, a royal cemetery site built by the kings and queens of the ancient Kushite Empire 2,500 years ago.
• Colonial Williamsburg, USA
http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/virtual-tours
Find out more about the historical sites of Williamsburg, Virginia, through a selection of virtual tours and online resources.
FAMILY FUN
• Ancient Farm Simulator
https://mused.com/en/explore/simulations
Try out these new online farm simulator games to find out more about rural life in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, or in the Maya world.
• Segedunum Roman Fort
http://www.segedunumromanfort.org.uk/family-learning-activities
Discover a selection of family friendly activities from Segedunum Roman Fort: create objects that the Romans would have used, play games, dress up, or even become an archaeologist.
• Lost Scrolls of Pompeii: the new revelations
http://www.channel5.com/show/the-lost-scrolls-of-vesuvius-with-alice-roberts
Join Alice Roberts as she learns about the groundbreaking science being used to examine hundreds of ancient scrolls carbonised in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
• Vasa: the ghost ship
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001zyvm/vasa-the-ghost-ship
Follow archaeologists, divers, and historians as they investigate the wreck of a 17th-century galleon that sank in Stockholm harbour during her maiden voyage in 1628.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Lives of the First World War
https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk
Discover millions of personal stories from the First World War with these online resources from the Imperial War Museum exploring the lives of individuals from across Britain and the Commonwealth.
• Roadtrip: Castles & Palace Grounds
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/wAWRtcwHB3tQxA
Take a virtual trip around some of the UK’s most distinctive palace and castle gardens, and find out more about the history of these spaces and the people who created and visited them.
• Govan Early Medieval
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/govan-early-medieval
Learn more about early medieval Europe and the remarkable Viking Age carved stones housed at the Govan Stones Museum in Glasgow with this new podcast.
• #RomanSiteSaturday
http://www.x.com/hashtag/RomanSiteSaturday
Find social media posts about Roman sites all over the world every week under this hashtag, or use it to post about some of your own favourites.
Go digging!
We are always glad to hear from projects offering digging opportunities to the public. If you would like to highlight an upcoming excavation to our readers, please get in touch at cp@currentpublishing.com.
