Festival of Archaeology 2023: Our events
We’re very excited to once again be part of the Festival of Archaeology, one of the UK’s biggest annual celebrations of archaeology.
Events held throughout the festival, between 15 and 30 July, are coordinated by a range of community groups and organisations and Warrington Museum and Art Gallery have a fun-filled programme of activities for all the family.
The theme for this year’s festival – run by the Council for British Archaeology – is ‘Archaeology and Creativity’. Archaeology is about storytelling and archaeologists use creative practices such as art, music, creative writing, poetry and theatre to bring to life the material we uncover and the stories of the places and people around us.
So come and join us for the 2023 Festival of Archaeology and show us how creative you are. Please note, last admission to the museum for all events will be 15 minutes before closing.
GALLERY TRAIL
Pick up a gallery trail guide from one of our friendly front of house staff and see how many of the objects you can find throughout the museum galleries.
Family-friendly, recommended for aged 7+. Drop-in anytime during the museum’s normal opening hours.
15 JULY
CRAFTERNOONS – VIKING SHIPS
Join us for our free archaeology themed drop-in craft activities for kids. In this session we will be making Viking ships. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for ages 3 + (1pm-3pm).
16 JULY
GOING POTTY OVER POTS
Join ceramics artist Deborah Podmore for a family-friendly hands on session exploring some of the historic manufacturing and decorating techniques used by early potters from Britain’s ancient past.
Attendees will have the opportunity to study Bronze Age and Roman pottery from the museum’s collections and to explore coil building construction techniques and using moulds. Children welcome, aged 7+ recommended, and must be accompanied by an adult. Sessions are 40 minutes. Free but booking essential. **Note if booking for a child, book one slot only and adult will be classed as a helper, this is due to a limited amount of space and equipment available.
https://wmag.culturewarrington.org/whats-on/going-potty-over-pots/.
21 JULY
HISTORY OF THE BRIDGEWATER CANAL
Archaeologist Dr Mike Nevell will give a talk looking at the history of the Bridgewater Canal between 11am and 12.30pm
Originally constructed to transport the Duke of Bridgewater’s coal from his mine at Worsley in Greater Manchester efficiently and cheaply to the rapidly expanding towns and cities nearby, at its peak, more than three million tonnes of traffic used the Bridgewater Canal.
It was the first canal in Britain which did not follow the path of an existing river or tributary when it opened on 17 July 1761. More notably perhaps, the canal’s impact on the price of coal sparked a raft of imitators in a period of frenetic canal building between the 1790s and 1810s which would become known as ‘canal mania’.
Free but booking essential: https://wmag.culturewarrington.org/whats-on/history-of-the-bridgewater-canal/
22 JULY
CRAFTERNOONS – ROMAN MOSAICS
Join us for our free archaeology themed drop-in craft activities for kids to make your own Roman Mosaic. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for ages 3+. (1pm to 3pm).
PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME
Representatives from the Portable Antiquities Scheme at National Museums Liverpool will be visiting Warrington Museum to talk about how they go about recording archaeological finds recovered by metal detectorists and the importance of being able to record the finds to allow further archaeological research to take place.
Heather Beeton is the Portable Antiquities Scheme’s Finds Liaison Officer for Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. She is based at the Museum of Liverpool but her role takes her all over the three counties, identifying and recording archaeological objects discovered by the public. Free on a drop-in basis and family-friendly.
26 JULY
CRAFTS ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS – CAVE PAINTINGS
Join us for our free archaeology themed drop-in craft activities where we will make our own cave paintings. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for ages 3+ (10am-3pm).
28 JULY
CRAFTS ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS – ‘DINORAMA’
Join us for our free archaeology themed drop-in craft activities for kids. During this session we are making dinosaur dioramas. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for ages 3+ (10am to 3pm).
29 JULY
CRAFTERNOONS – ROUND HOUSES
Join us for our free archaeology themed drop-in craft activities for kids. Today we are making Round Houses. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for ages 3+ (1pm to 3pm).