The Festival of British Archaeology, an annual nationwide event, takes place this year from Saturday 16 until Sunday 31 July.  The Archaeology Service are keen to build on the success of their events last summer and are running two further days for the public this year.  All events in The Festival aim to promote archaeology and are usually very well attended. To book your place or to find out more information, please see the contact details below via 'read more'.
 

Mere Castle and White Sheet Hill – Guided Walk

The first event is an exciting guided walk from Mere Castle, which is located just north of Castle Street in the village of Mere.  Mere lies at the extreme south western tip of Salisbury Plain, close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset.  The walk takes in the medieval castle and it’s adjacent Bronze Age round barrows as well as the prehistoric monuments of the down edge.  Surrounded by an incredibly beautiful landscape, the walk will continue across to the spectacular Neolithic Causewayed Camp of White Sheet Hill.

 

View north towards Castle Hill showing the Old Barn and surrounding houses, south side of Castle Street, Mere, pre 1890 when the barn was demolished
Ref: P19227

Clare King, Assistant County Archaeologist will be leading this walk at 2pm on Sunday 17 July.  

 

Castle Hill, Mere, c.1950
Ref: P48759


Tour of Littlecote Roman Villa

The second event will be a talk and guided tour of the fascinating remains of the Littlecote Roman villa, near Hungerford, close to the border with West Berkshire.  Sitting in the extensive grounds of Littlecote House, this is one of the most complete excavations of a Roman villa in Britain.  The site was fully excavated between 1978 and 1991 and spectacular features like the Orpheus mosaic are still on display.

 
The Orpheus Mosaic

The tour will start at 2pm on Sunday 24 July and will be led by Melanie Pomeroy-Kellinger, Wiltshire County Archaeologist.  To book your place or to find out more information see the contact details below.

To book your place or to find out more information please contact:

Nancy Jane Danks, Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham, SN15 3QN, telephone: 01249 705504, e-mail: archaeology@wiltshire.gov.uk

For more information about other Festival of British Archaeology events in Wiltshire and beyond visit the official website at http://festival.britarch.ac.uk/

If you have enjoyed this article, the following entries may also be of interest:

Minding Our Monuments

Roman Bath House Reveals More Secrets

If you'd like to find out how the Archaeology team got on, please take a look at Archaeology brings Wiltshire's heritage to life once again