The Jorvik Dig in York

In York we went to a place called The Dig so we could pretend to be archeologists. First we got given little trowels to dig up special stuff from different ages in time from the past. We went with our cousins and aunties and uncles. We don't see them very often so it was a very good time with them. They are really kind and we had a very fun time together in York. I miss them.

Digging

I chose a green trowel and got digging. The dirt looks like real sand, but it's not. It's little ripped up bits of plastic. It felt rubbery and squeezy.

There were so many interesting things, like this yellow and orange piece of pottery and a brick path I found between the walls.

There was a lovely helper called Tasha who explained what the things were.

For example, can you guess what this is? It is an oil lamp. Because they didn't have any electricity they used these to have light.

She also showed us some other interesting objects that real archeologists actually found.

This is a piece of pottery from a later time and a pipe.

Next I decided to look in the Medieval Area. It included part of a church and a graveyard.

I found something spooky, but kept digging.

I worked very hard to uncover the whole thing. It was a whole skeleton!

Next I found something very interesting. Can you guess what it is? It's a doll!

Real Life Fossils

Next we got to look at real life fossils that had been found in York in a real archeological dig.

We had to sort the fossils in our trays into the right container.

There were heaps of cool bones like these massive knucklebones from a horse or cow.

Tasha showed us what bones were from which animals and how they would have fit together in an animal leg.

We also got to see this cool window pane and some other big skulls.

But she told us that this tiny little fossil is what archeologists love to find the most. Can you guess what it is? It is.....

... Fossilised POO!!! I think it was pretty disgusting but archeologists like to find it because it shows them what people had been eating.

This is SUPER-EXCITING!!! It's a replica of the largest fossilised POO in the WHOLE world!!!! The real one was found in York.

Fun Viking Activities

Finally we spent some time doing some fun activities at The Dig.

We coloured in some clothes for the people of Hungate.

Then we did a test to see if you were a Viking. It asked questions about where you came from, what your eye and hair colour were and what foods and drink you preferred. I was a TRUE VIKING!!

Then I got to colour in my own Viking horn. Remember - Vikings didn't have horns on their helmets like in the movies and books because otherwise they would have been lifted up, or had their necks broken in battle by their enemies. In real life Vikings used horns for drinking.

Finally I did an activity where I had to guess which foods were foods that Vikings had. I had some clues because we went to the Jorvick Viking Centre the day before and went on a little car through a fake Viking Village. So I knew they had fish because I saw someone fishing. I knew they had eggs because I saw some chickens. I knew they had apples because I saw a boy eating an apple. We also saw pigs on the ride so I thought they would eat meat. We also saw a man with carrots, parsnips, cabbages and bread. Other foods like a pretzel I decided they wouldn't have because they're something that's from our days.