This year there are four new Local Explorer Challenges! Which one will you try?
People often think of ‘archaeology’ as stuff buried in the ground. This is a bit simplistic. Archaeology is really the process of looking at evidence from the past to work things out about how people used to live from the traces they left behind.
When you understand archaeology in these terms it’s easy to understand how it is all around us; above and below ground. Our built environment is full of traces of how people lived in the past, some using the same buildings, streets and roads as we do today.
Taking an archaeological approach to looking around you, there are lots of traces of how successive generations have adapted their environment to suit changing needs. Put your archaeology hat on and see how many of these places, spaces, changes and structures you can find around you. You will likely notice just how long some of these have existed and how people's attitudes and priorities about their local place have changed over time.
The City challenge has urban features, or the Town and Country challenge is for more rural areas.
There's a challenge for people in Wales, with Welsh or English language options.
And finally, there's a Young Explorer challenge designed specially for under-16s.
At the links you'll find a download which you can print and take with you, along with handy hints to help you find things.
Star Item Prize Draw
To make things even more exciting, this year each challenge has a special Star Item which is extra hard to spot!
If you find one, take a photo and share it with us to be entered into a prize draw.
You can share your star finds on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #LocalExplorerChallenge and tagging @archaeologyuk or you can email them directly to us at festival@archaeologyuk.org. (If you're under 16, please ask an adult to share them online for you!)
Entries received by 6 September 2021 will be entered into the draw. There will be a first prize and a runner-up prize for over-16s who have submitted a photograph of a "star item" from the City, Town and Country, and Welsh challenges, and a first prize and runner-up prize for under-16s who have entered a photo of a "star item" on the Young Archaeologist's Challenge, or any of the other 2021 challenges previously mentioned. Please note this prize draw is only available to UK residents.
The first prize for over-16s includes a £50 shopping voucher, a book donated by our partners at Thames & Hudson, and a year's free membership of the CBA. The runner-up prize for over-16s include a £25 shopping voucher and a year's free membership of the CBA.
The first prize for under-16s includes a satchel of archaeological tools donated by Past Horizons, a book voucher, and a free YAC Pass for a year. The runner-up prize for under 16s includes a book voucher and a free YAC Pass for a year.
The winners will be announced by the 20th September.
