The Backyard Archaeology project in 2009 gave members of the public the opportunity to attend a series of workshops aimed at teaching basic archaeological finds identification.
These workshops aimed to:
- Equip local communities with the skills and capacity to understand their historic environment and engage with the HER
- Provide local groups with the tools to investigate the historic environment via finds identification
- Improve the representation of sites and finds in the HER
- Encourage people to use their new skills in areas where there are gaps in the HER's knowledge
Five workshops in total were organised, examining pottery, miscellaneous objects, aerial photography, worked flint and metal objects. Led by staff from Warwickshire Museum Field Services, all workshops proved a huge success. A wide range of age groups attended, from a wide geographic area (including outside of Warwickshire).
A follow-up introductory course in aerial photography was also held in November 2009 at Shipston-on-Stour Town Hall, introducing participants to the history of study and providing opportunities for hands-on analysis and interpretation of maps and photographs.
