Archaeology at UCL

UCL's Institute of Archaeology has organised a series of events this summer as part of its commitment to widening participation.

The institute will hold a one-day archaeology taster course on 30 June 2004, conduct an archaeological dig with Kingsbury High School during June and July, and participate in the Council for British Archaeology's annual National Archaeology Day event on 17 July 2004.

The one-day taster course is designed to introduce year 10, 11 and 12 students to archaeology and university life. The course features university-style lectures as well as hands-on sessions using the institute's collection of bones, stone tools, pottery and metals. This year's theme explores contemporary issues in archaeology, heritage and museums. Students will develop their transferable skills, including the research and presentation of a mini-project with help from current undergraduate archaeology students. The day also includes a session on student life and the career opportunities open to archaeology graduates. This will be followed on 2 July 2004 by 'Archaeology: Can You Dig it?', a two-hour introduction to archaeology as part of UCL's Masterclass series.

The Kingsbury High School project, which will take place between 28 June and 17 July 2004, will investigate the remains of a Tudor cottage on school land. The school, which is one of UCL's widening participation partners, approached the institute in January 2004 for advice on how to put together an excavation for its students. The team from the institute has developed a range of cross-curricula teaching for the school, which incorporates archaeological examples, and training in archaeological skills for the students. The project will explore the everyday lives of past generations of local people through the material remains they left behind, putting real people next to the maps, pictures and texts of historical research. The site will be open to the public on 17 July 2004 as part of UCL's contribution to National Archaeology Day.

National Archaeology Day is suitable for all age groups and is being held at the Institute of Archaeology and UCL's Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. Hands-on activities will be taking place throughout the day, enabling visitors to explore the story of archaeology. These include 'Roman Property', which invites members of the public to bring in their own finds and have them identified by an expert, and 'Ancient Communication', which explores the origins of the languages we use today and the different ways in which people communicated in the past.

Talks on a variety of archaeological topics will be given, including 'Half a million years of archaeology in London', which introduces the variety of peoples whose lives have contributed to the development of London, and 'Feeding the Pyramid Builders', a look at what was eaten in the workmen's town of Giza, situated at the foot of the Great Pyramid in ancient Egypt.

Image: Bear Claw, Çatalhöyük, Turkey - on display at UCL's Institute of Archaeology.

To find out more about the events being organised by the institute use the link below.

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Links:
National Archaeology Day