Silchester Archaeology Open Days, Saturday 28 July and 11 August 2001. Silchester Children's Activity Day, Saturday 21July 2001 – University of Reading
18 July 2001The Silchester excavation holds two Open Days each season, and this year will also host a children's activity day to celebrate National Archaeology Day on 21 July. Although the public may visit the excavation any day of the week except Fridays, during the period 9 July until 19 August, these Open Days, on 28 July and 11 August, provide special events for the visitors. In the past these have included 'sand pit' excavations for the children, site tours by the excavation Directors and demonstrations of activities such as Roman chain-mail making.
Participants in the excavation will also show members of the public around the site during the working week.
The project is both a training Field School and a research excavation located in the heart of Calleva Atrebatum, a major Roman civitas capital (administrative centre), situated in the modern village of Silchester, in the county of Hampshire (England). The excavation will trace the Iron Age origins, subsequent Roman development and eventual abandonment of approximately one-third of Insula IX, believed to have been a part of the town devoted to industrial and commercial activity, as well as residential use. Further information can be found at www.silchester.reading.ac.uk
On Saturday 21 July the site will be open as part of National Archaeology Day when children and their parents are particularly welcome.
National Archaeology Day is an annual event which aims to encourage children and their families to visit museums, sites of archaeological/historic interest or heritage centres to see Archaeology in Action and take part in activities on site. Visitors to Silchester will be able to take part in a variety of activities including storytelling.
For further details, please contact Sue Rayner or Carol Derham on 0118 931 8004/5 Fax 0118 931 8924
Details of other National Archaeology Day events can be found on www.britarch.ac.uk