Young Archaeologists in Kent

North Downs YAC continues to be as popular as ever. Some recent meetings have included a day trip to Avebury, West Kennet long barrow and Stonehenge, the latter with privileged access granted by English Heritage to walk amongst the stones. We have carried out a gravestone survey around Thurnham church, attended the 30th birthday party of YAC at the British Museum and visited Time Team at Greenwich, searching for Henry VIII’s tilt yard. We have visited ‘Military Odyssey’ at Detling and are planning a joint Christmas meeting with the Canterbury branch of YAC to which Carenza Lewis is invited.

In July we celebrated National Archaeology Day with an Iron Age Family Activity Day at White Horse Wood, Thurnham, held in association with KCC Heritage. Activities included tasting Iron Age recipes, constructing Boudicca’s chariot, making edible torcs, weaving and braiding, and using fabric paint with stencils to make Iron Age designs. Giles Guthrie, Acting Keeper of Human History from Maidstone Museum, brought along Iron Age artefacts including slave chains. He was most generous with his time and spent the day talking to fascinated children. We were fortunate to have the living history group Cantiaci as our special guests. They painted skin with woad and demonstrated facets of life in the Iron Age. For many children the highlight though, was the chance to get in a real mess spreading daub on wattle walls!

Four branch members recently represented YAC on the Children’s BBC programme ‘Xchange’, in an episode focussed on prehistoric life. We were proud that they put the presenters straight when asked about their subject, emphasising that archaeology was the