Saltscape and the Lion Salt Works Museum will be holding an Archaeology Open Day on Saturday 29th July from 10am-4pm.
The day will give the whole family the chance to try their hand at techniques such as digging and identifying finds to experience the excitement of archaeology.
Visitors will be able to and see artefacts uncovered during an archaeological dig at the nearby former site of the Ollershaw Lane saltworks organised by the Saltscape Landscape Partnership in the week running up to the Open Day.
The dig, which runs from 24th-28th July, will be organised by Saltscape with experts from Salford University’s Community Archaeology Department and local people from all walks of life.
Caroline Foster, Saltscape’s Project Officer said, “Our community archaeology events have been really successful. Through funding from the National Lottery’s Heritage Lottery fund we aim to get people asking questions about their local history and wanting to discover more. Being part of this project or coming along to our Open Day gives people the opportunity experience our local heritage first hand and learn about how to care for it.”
During the Open Day archaeologists will demonstrate geophysics surveying techniques, (known to television viewers as ‘geofizz’!), that can be used to detect buried archaeological remains.
There will also be lots of arts and crafts activities for children and tours of the trenches which have been dug during the previous week’s excavations
The event coincides with the Festival of Archaeology – coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology, which encourages everyone to explore the archaeology of their local area, watch experts at work and experience archaeology for themselves.
If you’d like to find out more about the Community Archaeology Project call Saltscape on 01606 723 160 or email