Photo: at the site where the UK's first Ice Age cave engravings were found this year, archaeologists at Cresswell Crags, Derbyshire look out for more. Courtesy of Steve Parkin.
National Archaeology Days 2003 is taking place on Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 20, and is set to offer a range of activities and events for all ages and levels of interest.
Here is our brief guide to just some of the highlights of events and activities across the Midlands and Wales.
The Old Rectory Museum near Loughbough is showcasing a variety of displays, archaeological discoveries and drawings from excavations and surveys undertaken by the Loughborough Archaeological Society on July 19.
The Creswell Crags Museum & Education Centre in Nottinghamshire is hosting an archaeology and geology roadshow over the whole weekend featuring an array of experts, flintknapping workshops, children's games and activities plus special cave tours to Pinhole and Churchole Caves.
Newark Castle will be hosting a weekend of archaeological activities for children of all ages within its stunning medieval walls, while the Museum of Nottingham Life is conducting tours that explain what happens to archaeology within the city, from the planning process through to its cataloguing, storage and display.
The Egleton Nature Reserve at Rutland Water on July 19 is hosting a series of talks by staff of the University of Leicester Archaeological Services. Dr Nick Cooper will talk about Romans and Saxons and John Thomas will expound on the Woolly Rhino Hunters and Hyena Dens at Glaston as well as recent work in Rutland Villages.
Photo: get down to Creswell Crags Gorge for an archaeology and geology roadshow featuring an array of experts. Courtesy Creswell Heritage Trust.
In Staffordshire the Cotehouse Farm Excavation at Berry Hill will be the setting for tours of the recent Community Dig that examined the origins of the post-medieval smallholding farm and archaeological sites of Berryhill Fields on July 19.
On July 20 the Market Hall Museum, in Warwick is 'Going Potty' with a look at, and handling sessions for, whole pots and some of the earliest shards and fragments found in Warwickshire.
The Rugby Art Gallery & Museum is holding a discover archaeology day on July 19. Focusing on the Tripontium Collection of Roman artefacts, the day will enable visitors to learn about the world of archaeology, handle real Roman pottery and bones and have a go at washing excavated pottery shards.
Moving into the heart of the Black Country, Bantock House in Wolverhampton is the setting for a talk by council archaeologist Mike Shaw on July 19 on the subject of 'Old Hall' excavations, to coincide with displays of artefacts from the dig.
Dudley Museum & Art Gallery has a Roman dig on July 19 while Sutton Park Visitor's Centre in Birmingham hosts a 'Roman' round the park' on the following weekend July 26-27. They'll show you what the Romans wore, how they worked and what they ate!! (I hope it keeps!) Activities include mosaic making, Roman food, head dress/armour making and re-enactors.
The Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings near Bromsgrove has a weekend event looking at the archaeology of buildings - how they were they made and what you can find out about the people who lived there.
Photo: the majestic Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
At Bewdley Museum on July 20, there's a Rock & Fossil Roadshow for the public to bring along their own specimens for identification. You can also handle rocks and minerals from the museum's reserve collection and find out about the fascinating history of geological material.
Hartlebury Castle, near Kidderminster, is using its new archaeology gallery for a variety of activities including, brass rubbing workshop, trying on Roman Armour and weapons, sand pit 'digs', finds identification and lots more on July 20.
In Oxfordshire the Ashmolean Museum is hosting a Hidden History of the Ashmolean on July 20. Visitors can discover the history of the museum and some of the exciting objects it contains. Meet the archaeologists, handle original artefacts, follow a trail and bring finds along for identification.
At Manor Farm Oxford University is hosting a day of tours of the recent excavations and some fieldwalking, plus a Roman dressing up competition on Sunday July 20. On the day before you can meet Magnus the Oxford Armourer working at his forge at the Museum of Oxford.
Photo: Ironbridge still stands tall and puzzles engineers
In Shropshire, Iron Bridge Gorge Museum will be exploring the Victorian blast furnace through excavation, building recording and survey on July 19. An 'incident room' will also be open for finds processing, illustration, interpretative artwork and virtual archaeology.
Moving into Wales Bersham Heritage Centre near Wrexham is holding an afternoon walk interestingly titled 'What Offa left behind…in the Clywedog Valley' on July 20.
Carmarthen County Museum is joining forces with Cambria Archaeology for a day of pot washing, excavation and demonstrations on July 19 whilst down in Swansea, Glamorgan-Gwent Aarchaeological Trust is holding a finds roadshow at Heathfield House.
Gwynedd Museum in Bangor has an identification roadshow on July 19 whilst a small contingent of the Ermine Street Guard will set up camp at Loggerheads Country Park in Denbighshire over the whole weekend.
The National Museum and Gallery in Cardiff is hosting archaeological 'have a go' sessions over the weekend while Newport Museum and Art Gallery is going all Egyptian with a day of activities to coincide with an exhibiton of Egyptian artefacts on July 19.
But if you want to get your hands dirty there is a practical training day at Ogmore Castle on July 20. The day includes excavation skills, dry sieving, finds sorting and basic conservation work.
There are so many great events going on for this year's National Archaeology Days that we couldn't possibly tell you about all of them!
So to check time details, availability and find out what else is out there click on this link to pay the Council for British Archaeology website a visit.
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