The Millings
We are delighted to bring this webpage to readers as a follow on activity from the Skeleton Science exhibitions that first started in 2012. The subject of this part of the project is related to a pilot study in 2016 that introduced archaeology to residents at The Millings Residential Care Home, Bedale, in North Yorkshire . This pilot study was funded by Durham University and included short talks on archaeology, including how archaeological sites are discovered and excavated, and the different specialisms, including pottery, animal and plant remains, and human skeletons. Local sites of interest were included in discussions, and especially references to the many archaeological sites that have been found during the A1 road works, geographically very close to The Millings.
The project explored with residents and carers what questions archaeologists try to answer and included “hands on” sessions with objects (pottery and artefacts of other materials such as wood and metal), bones from a range of different species of animals, and replica casts of human remains that are all from original human bones from archaeological sites. Durham University’s Archaeological Services unit further provided pottery and animal bones from Binchester Roman Fort for residents to wash. We also visited Bedale Museum and Swaledale Museum in Reeth, North Yorkshire with some residents and carers for object handling sessions, and we went to see the Durham University excavations at Binchester Roman Fort in County Durham.
We encourage others to use the resource that we have created within the wide range of “older generation” contexts, not only in the UK, but further afield in other countries. It is available as a downloadable resource from this page, and we welcome feedback on its use. The booklet introduces archaeology as a subject, and focuses particularly on using archaeological evidence to understand health and well-being. This resource has benefited from discussions with The Millings residents and carers as to what it should contain. Enjoy!
*Please note, the Archaeology for the Older Generation file is a large file, please be patient while downloading.
The project explored with residents and carers what questions archaeologists try to answer and included “hands on” sessions with objects (pottery and artefacts of other materials such as wood and metal), bones from a range of different species of animals, and replica casts of human remains that are all from original human bones from archaeological sites. Durham University’s Archaeological Services unit further provided pottery and animal bones from Binchester Roman Fort for residents to wash. We also visited Bedale Museum and Swaledale Museum in Reeth, North Yorkshire with some residents and carers for object handling sessions, and we went to see the Durham University excavations at Binchester Roman Fort in County Durham.
We encourage others to use the resource that we have created within the wide range of “older generation” contexts, not only in the UK, but further afield in other countries. It is available as a downloadable resource from this page, and we welcome feedback on its use. The booklet introduces archaeology as a subject, and focuses particularly on using archaeological evidence to understand health and well-being. This resource has benefited from discussions with The Millings residents and carers as to what it should contain. Enjoy!
*Please note, the Archaeology for the Older Generation file is a large file, please be patient while downloading.
If you would like to learn a bit more about the project, please take a few minutes to watch our project film which includes an introduction by Professor Roberts and Dr McCarrison, interviews with Anthea Adams (Activities Coordinator), Sandra Anderson (Manager), Lauren Walther (PhD student) and Susan Pearson (daughter of Tom, one of The Millings residents who took part in the project). The film is also an opportunity to hear from the residents themselves and to see them, along with The Millings staff, enjoying a number of the activities described above including the visit to Binchester Roman Fort.