Making archaeology accessible for all
This Neolithic axhead was found in Westhoughton.
The following list gives you an idea of the kinds of objects that can be found locally.
These items are on the Portable Antiquities database. The links take you directly to their site.
Reproduced with the kind permission of the Portable Antiquities Scheme via their own news feed.
Once a month Frances McIntosh is available to give expert advice on any interesting items found locally or further afield.
"The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary scheme to record archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales.
Every year many thousands of objects are discovered, many of these by metal-detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work.
Such discoveries offer an important source for understanding our past." (from the PAS website).
Check the What's On section for regular updates about Frances' visits.
Read on to get a flavour of the kind of work that the PAS does in partnership with Bolton Museum & Archive Service.
Archaeology Week
Last month the Museum put on public events for Archaeology Week. Frances organised some finds handling and identification.
Children could have a go at being an archaeologist by drawing, measuring and identifying items from the museums stores. They could pick up the items and had to work out what they were by following a series of questions posed to Frances and her volunteer. The activity was very popular with lots of children learning about the past and the sort of things archaeologists have to do once things have been dug out of the ground.
There were also some computers available which were linked to the Past Explorers website. This is the education website run by the Portable Antiquities Scheme. It has activities that allow you to explore an Anglo-Saxon village as well as interactive digging and metal detecting.
There are also many pages with information about archaeology and finds for children to learn more. Teachers can use the resources put up there for lesson plans for KS2 and 3.
Local MP visit prompts question in Parliament
Dr Brian Iddon, the local MP, was invited along to the event to see what was happening and also to find out more about the Portable Antiquities Scheme. He was very impressed with the activities and saw how much they were being enjoyed by the children, even some of the parents learnt a thing or two!
Dr Iddon kindly went on to mention the event and the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Question Time in Parliament to the new secretary for the DCMS (Department for Culture Media & Sport), James Purnell.
