Silchester Archaeological Excavation Open to the Public – University of Reading
11 July 2003The Silchester Archaeological excavation is open to the public from 10 – 4.30pm every day of the week except Fridays until August 14 In addition, there will be two special Open Days on Saturday July 26th and Saturday August 9th These Open Days 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 blacksmithing and weapon displays. Participants in the excavation will also show members of the public around the site during the working week. A recent innovation on the site is the Roman garden, with many species of flora which would have been grown in Romano Britain. 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 the Silchester website For further details please contact Carol Derham or Sue Rayner, Communications & External Relations Office, University of Reading 0118 378 8004/5.