Kids Dig 2022

at Ramsey Rural Museum

in collaboration with Warboys Archaeology Group

From Monday 30th May to Friday June 3rd

1-4pm each day

5 afternoon sessions for children

Following a successful dig during the summer of 2021, Ramsey Rural Museum and Warboys Archaeology Group have planned another archaeological dig for children. On a newly surveyed and specially prepared site on the museum grounds, 7-12 year olds can take part in the dig and receive help to identify their finds.

3-6 year olds can also dig in a safe and secure pit. Using sand instead of soil, if the children 'dig' carefully they too will discover all kinds of objects from the past

£2 per child per session

Getting started

On Wednesday 13th April 2022 the museum grounds were marked out with canes and ropes then surveyed with a special piece of equipment to find the most interesting site for the archaeological dig to take place. See the photos below............

  1. Marking a straight line

4.Ground survey begins

2. Precise measurements

5.carefully does it.

2. Creating a grid

6. Looking at the results

Results of the geophysical survey

The images below show the position of the dig at Ramsey Rural Museum.

Then, what a surprise, because Alex spotted something fluttering on the ground just where she was about to put her foot down. At first she thought it was a butterfly but it had such unusual colourings and markings that we knew it wasn't but none of us knew just what it was. Here is what it looked like.....

So back at home, Alex discovered that it was a rather unusual type of moth called an Emperor Moth.

Notice the terracotta coloured underwings, feathery antennae and the "false eyes" on each wing.

This is a male which flies during the day hunting the pheromones ( or scents) of the female Emperor moth, which are only active at night.

WHY was this Emperor Moth here in Cambridgeshire when they are usually found in heathland like Ashdown Forest and New Forest - wonder why this one is so far from home?

Who knows what you might find if you decide to join the dig?

It starts on Monday 30th May and runs every afternoon that half term week starting at 1pm and finishing at 4pm.

Bring some gardening gloves if you have some and wear old clothes....it can get messy!