History hat-trick of events every summer weekend in York

History hat-trick of events every summer weekend in York

 

Wood, walking boots and lost treasures all have a special place in York this weekend (31 July and 1 August) with a series of events from York Archaeology and The JORVIK Group taking place across the city.

 

As part of a series of events building up to Archaeology Live, a new festival taking place at the end of August, different venues throughout the city will be hosting history-themed events, from walking tours to hands-on experimental archaeology.

 

The garden of DIG in St Saviourgate will host a series of experimental archaeology events with a different theme each weekend.  “Experimental archaeology is where you try to recreate the techniques used by our ancestors to better understand how they lived and worked.  We might unearth a wooden bowl during an excavation, for example, but we gain more understanding of that bowl’s value and origins if we can recreate the process to make the bowl,” comments event manager, Gareth Henry.  “This weekend, children will be able to see wood turning using a pole lathe to make a bowl or a hammer handle using the techniques that were used centuries before mechanical equipment was invented, and in the coming weeks, they will be casting pewter pendants, tasting food and making pots all using authentic historical techniques and demonstrated by our expert interpreters.”

 

Throughout August, archaeologists will be leading daily tours of the city’s streets and walls as part of a series of summer walking tours based around the Micklegate and Bishophill areas.  Until 6 August, it is the city’s medieval heritage that comes into focus, looking at major processional routes, York’s famous Mystery Plays, how religion shaped York and looking at some of the medieval finds unearthed during archaeological digs of the area in a special display in Micklegate Bar.  Tours last around 45 minutes and cost just £6.

 

Meanwhile, every Saturday until 28 August, The JORVIK Group’s outreach team will be visiting libraries around the city to not only share stories about York’s past, but also to hear from residents who have a tale to tell or a significant artefact to share.  This weekend, the team will be at Acomb Explore from 10am to 2.30pm, bringing objects from nearly 50 years of archaeological explorations of the York area, from the Roman period to the modern day.  The activity is free and suitable for all ages.

 

Sharing Stories of York will also visit Tang Hall Explore on Saturday 7th August from 10 am – 3.30 pm,
York Explore on Saturday 14th August from 10 am – 3.30 pm, Strensall Library on Saturday 21st August from 10 am – 12 am and Haxby & Wiggington Library on Saturday 28 August from 10 am – 1 pm.

 

For more information on any of the events, or to book tickets (where required) please visit http://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/whats-on/