(Above) The Harborough Museum holds the oldest Roman coins in Britain
Festival: Leicestershire Festival of Archaeology, various venues, Leicester, until August 1 2010
Leicestershire's two-week celebration of all things excavational launches in revealing style tomorrow (July 17 2010) when finds from gardens in the village of Kibworth go on show at Kibworth Grammar School.
More than 200 villagers dug up their gardens as part of a BBC series to be screened later this year, and highlights from the communal forage include Middle Saxon pottery from 1,200 years ago, a period which had never previously been dated to archaeological artefacts from the area.
A replica test pit full of objects, geophysics tools, craft activities and expert sessions accompany the launch, but it’s only the first of more than 110 events being staged across the region, from digs and guided walks to talks, exhibitions and re-enactments of the Battle of Bosworth.
The story of Roman coin stash the Hallaton Hoard will be told by the diggers who found it at Harborough Museum, insights into intricate surveys of warfields will be given via a selection of tours, and Anglo Saxon and Viking warfare and games will take over Donington le Heath Manor House and the Melton Museum.
"This is the biggest festival ever in England that is dedicated to bringing the past to life and informing people of our archaeological heritage in the United Kingdom," says Leicestershire County Council's David Sprason.
"We have made some groundbreaking discoveries in Leicestershire that have achieved worldwide interest, and the festival enables us to share this knowledge with everyone.
"The two weeks are going to be full of exciting events for people of all ages and backgrounds, with plenty of hands-on experiences."
Council Chairman Peter Osborne, who will be launching the festival in Kibworth, says the county is "steeped in history".
"What the local villagers found just proves that everyone can get involved in discovering more about our past and that even our own back gardens have some hidden secrets," he added.
"The Festival will be even bigger and better than ever."
Launch event runs 11am-4pm. Visit the festival website for full listings.
Check out Culture24's ten picks from the Festival of British Archaeology for more ideas on where to go during the campaign.
