Photo: just think how many thousands of years of history might be lurking about under your feet... the clues to your past could be just a brush stroke away. © Dr Mike Parker-Pearson.
So you like history? Fancy yourself as a bit of an Indiana Jones? You've seen Time Team and you've read the books… but can you dig the dig?
Now's your chance to prove your excavating credentials with the Council for British Archaeology's annual celebration of all things historical and buried.
The fourteenth annual National Archaeology Days take place this weekend - July 19 and 20 - and there are hundreds of events in museums and sites of historical interest all over the UK.
It's the perfect chance to get down to your local museum or heritage site and see archaeology in action and get involved in on-site activities.
"National Archaeology Days allow ordinary people to get in touch with their past and their ancestors," explained Jan Cox of the CBA.
"Archaeology is a study of the way people lived in the past and this is a very good way of finding out about that. Instead of just looking at exhibits in museums people can make their own pots or dress up as Celts or Romans."
Photo: once there were thousands of them all round the country, but nowadays it's not often you get to meet the mighty legions of Rome. So you'd better take your chance this weekend.
"It's very much about interactive archaeology, your chance to get involved - you've seen it on Time Team, now do it here!"
Last year the programme was a huge success with over 90,000 visitors turning out to take part in a range of activities from re-enactments to public digs and geophysical surveys.
This year promises to be even more successful than before, as the number of archaeology units, museums and heritage sites signing up to take part has soared.
The event is organised by the Council for British Archaeology, through its 500 regional and national bodies, as well as the Young Archaeologists' Club, which offers nine to 16 year olds the chance to get involved.
However old or young you are, whether you're a potential Howard Carter or just looking to try something different, the weekend offers a great opportunity to get involved in archaeology through lively and hands-on events.
If you want to get out there and get digging, click on one of the regional links below for a rundown of some of the events happening in your area.
The pages open in new windows, so be sure to close them down to return to the main site.
Click here for Scotland, Northern Ireland, North of England
Click here for Wales and the Midlands
Click here for the East of England
for the West of England and the Channel Islands
Click here for London and the South East of England
