Festival of Archaeology 2016: events in Essex

The Festival of Archaeology 2016 began on the 16th July – in Colchester, we kick-started the Festival with the Roman fun day organised by the Colchester Young Archaeologists’ Club here at the Roman circus centre on the 16th.

From the Festival of Archaeology web-site: ‘… 1,000s of people get hands-on with the past across the UK at events bringing our archaeology to life from 16-31 July 2016.
The Festival of Archaeology – coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) – encourages everyone to explore the archaeology of their local area, watch experts at work, and experience archaeology for themselves.
Dig visits and open days give the whole family the chance to try their hand at techniques such as digging and identifying finds and experience the excitement of archaeology…
Experience life as a Roman, Greek and Egyptian, with living history, warfare demonstrations, food tasting and mosaic making. Learn about the technology behind archaeology and have a go at geophysical and topographic surveys, or take part in mini-excavations …
As ever, the Festival kicks off the summer holidays with hundreds of activities …’ – at www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk/about . Visit the CBA web-site at http://new.archaeologyuk.org/ and the Festival of Archaeology 2016 web-site at www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk/ .

From the Festival of Archaeology web-site: events in Essex (full details on or via the Festival web-site) –

* Archaeology taster weekends at Copped Hall
Various dates – South East | Essex
A first taste of excavation on a “live” site for absolute beginners – introduction to methods of archaeological investigation, supervised digging, finds handling and post-excavation procedures.
Periods: Tudors and Stuarts

* Mammoths, mosaics and metal-detecting at Chelmsford Museum
Sat. 23rd July 2016 – East | Essex
Get hands-on at Chelmsford Museum. Make a Roman mosaic to take away. Learn how to dowse and metal-detect and have a go at making a mammoth (younger children).
Periods: Prehistory, Saxons and Vikings, Tudors and Stuarts, Romans, Medieval, Georgians and Victorians

* Highlight tours at Colchester Castle
Various dates – East | Essex
Join our Curators for special tours of our archaeological collections. Each tour will visit a set of object highlights around the castle.
Periods: Prehistory, Saxons and Vikings, Medieval

* Conservation demonstration at Colchester Castle
Wed. 27th July 2016 – East | Essex
Meet our conservator, responsible for both our collections and also local archaeological finds. Learn about her work, and the world of artefacts, as seen under the microscope.
Periods: Prehistory, Saxons and Vikings, Romans, Medieval

* Portable Antiquities Roadshow
Various dates – East | Essex
Have you discovered an object that you think might be very old or perhaps you are unsure what the object actually is? Whether Roman or Victorian, from a field or your back garden, come and meet Essex’s Finds Liaison Officer at Hollytrees Museum during the festival of archaeology and see if he can identify it…
Periods: Prehistory, Saxons and Vikings, Tudors and Stuarts, 20th and 21st Century, Romans, Medieval, Georgians and Victorians

* Tea and talk: ‘The Clactonian in Essex’
Sat. 23rd July 2016 – East | Essex
Presentation by Adam Wightman, Colchester Archaeological Trust archaeologist, on Clactonian material from Stone Age Essex. 3.30pm-5pm | £3 per person | Booking required.
Periods: Prehistory

* Remember me? … The Fairlop Ring, Redbridge Museum
Sat. 9th July 2016- Sat. 31st December 2016 – South East | Essex
On public display for the first time is a beautiful 17th-century gold ring, which was lost in a Fairlop field for 400 years.
Periods: Tudors and Stuarts, 20th and 21st Century

* Festival of Archaeology Family Trail at Braintree District Museum
Sat. 16th July 2016-Sat. 30th July 2016 – South East | Essex
Our Festival of Archaeology Family Trail is free for children and consists of several interactive learning zones including an archaeology sandpit, Roman toga dressing-up and a weaving game alongside questions and the opportunity to experience our Victorian classroom with the whole family.
Periods: Prehistory, 20th and 21st Century, Romans, Medieval, Georgians and Victorians

* Early humans in Britain, Colchester Museum
Sat. 16th July 2016-Sun. 11th September 2016 – South East | Essex
This display looks at three of the species of human that have lived in Britain; Homo antecessor, Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens (modern humans). It explores how these different species progressed from hunting and gathering food, to farming the land.
Periods: Prehistory

* Awesome archaeology at Audley End
Mon. 25th July 2016-Fri. 29th July 2016 – South East | Essex
Get your hands dirty as you become a daring archaeologist on our mini dig for the day. Discover hidden treasures and fantastic finds as you excavate the secrets of Audley End.
Periods: Tudors and Stuarts, Medieval, Georgians and Victorians

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*** The Trust’s events here at the Roman circus centre during the Festival of Archaeology in July are:

 * Sat. 23rd July: Blue Badge guided tour of the circus site and centre, at 12.30 and 1.30, by Colchester Tourist Guides Jonathan or Dinah. FREE.
* Sat. 23rd July: ‘Making cutlery 300 years ago’ – illustrated talk with finds display by archaeologist Dr Pip Parmenter about an industry which once flourished at Thaxted in Essex. 11.30am-12.30pm. FREE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Sat. 30th July: ARCHAEOLOGY ROAD SHOW. Dug up anything archaeological you want an opinion on? Got any mysterious objects or antiques in the attic? Bring them along and try them on our panel of experts! – the panel will include Trust director Philip Crummy, Trust pottery specialist Steve Benfield, fossil expert Dr Patrick Spencer, and representatives from well-known Colchester auction house Reeman Dansie. 11.00am-4.00pm. FREE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Sat. 30th July: ‘Walking the Martello Towers of Suffolk’, illustrated talk by Trust archaeologist Howard Brooks. 11.30am-12.15pm. FREE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Sat. 30th July: guided tour of the circus site and centre by Trust guides Sam and John, at 12.30 and 1.30. FREE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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See the programme for our summer season of free events and free guided tours here at the Roman circus centre on this web-site at www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk/?p=29053 .

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