A hands‑on family archaeology adventure at the Curtis Museum
Join us this summer for the Festival of Archaeology, the UK's biggest celebration of archaeology and heritage. Discover how archaeologists uncover the past through a programme of hands-on activities, family workshops, living history experiences, films, crafts, and opportunities to meet experts.
Thursday 23 July - Craft Club: Soap Knapping
Try your hand at one of humanity's oldest skills! Using bars of soap instead of flint, children can safely learn the basics of prehistoric tool-making and create their own Stone Age-inspired artefact to take home.
Saturday 25 July - Weorod Living History
Travel back to the early medieval period with Weorod, a living history group bringing the Anglo-Saxon world to life.
Saturday 25 July – Film Screening: The Mummy (1999)
Join us for a special evening screening of the action-packed adventure classic The Mummy.
Tuesday 28 July – Clay Workshop: Pinch Pots and Roman Oil Lamps
Get creative with clay and learn about ancient pottery techniques. Participants will make their own pinch pots and Roman-style oil lamps, inspired by objects used thousands of years ago.
Wednesday 29 July – Archaeology Drop-In Day
Meet a real archaeologist and a local metal detectorist, explore object handling collections, try ancient writing, create mosaics, tackle pottery puzzles, and uncover hidden finds in our archaeology dig pits.
Thursday 30 July – Craft Club: Stratigraphy Jars
Discover how archaeologists read layers of soil to understand the past. Create your own colourful stratigraphy jar and learn how the layers beneath our feet reveal centuries of history.
Saturday 1 August – Animation Workshop
Bring the past to life through animation! Learn simple stop-motion techniques and create your own short animated sequence inspired by archaeology, history, and museum objects.
Saturday 1 August – Film Screening: Early Man (2018)
Celebrate the end of the festival with a screening of Aardman's prehistoric comedy Early Man. Packed with humour, adventure, and Stone Age shenanigans, it's a fun family film for all ages.
As part of the Festival of Archaeology 2026, we're running the Time Detective Agency trail.
Step into the shoes of a Time Detective and uncover the clues hidden in the past! Join us at the Curtis Museum for an exciting, interactive family event where young explorers and grown‑ups work together to solve historical mysteries through play, puzzles and discovery. Packed with creative activities and archaeological challenges, The Time Detective Agency invites families to investigate, build and dig their way through history. What’s in store?
3D Pot Puzzles
Become a finds specialist and reconstruct broken pots using three‑dimensional puzzles, just like real archaeologists do in the lab.
Mini Archaeology Dig Pits
Roll up your sleeves and excavate hidden objects from our mini dig pits. Learn how archaeologists carefully uncover and record finds from the ground.
Roman Mosaic Building Zone
Create your own Roman‑inspired mosaic using colourful interlocking bricks, exploring ancient design, patterns and symbolism through hands‑on building.
Designed for families with children, this drop‑in event blends learning with imagination and play. No prior knowledge needed - just enthusiasm, curiosity and a sense of adventure. Can you solve the mystery and earn your place in the Time Detective Agency? Come and find out at the Curtis Museum.
Suitable for families and children. All materials provided.
