Archaeology Day has been held at Watford Museum (From Watford Observer)

Archaeology Day has been held at Watford Museum

9:58pm Sunday 18th July 2010 in

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A series of weird and wonderful artifacts were on display in Watford as part of day dedicated to archaeology.

Aspiring archaeologists flocked to Watford Museum on Saturday to take part in Archaeology Day, organised as part of the Festival of British Archaeology and Watford Live.

Hosted by the Watford Borough Council, visitors were able to sift through bits of pottery, bone, porcelain found along the Thames.

Laurie Elvin, chairman of South West Hertfordshire Archaeological and History Society, was showing off his collection of artifacts.

He said: “These are a selection of interesting items I have found down by the Thames.

“The oldest piece here is this piece of wood, which I have had examined by an archaeology expert in London. We believe it could be hundreds of thousands of years old.

“Other pieces here date back to the sixteenth century, and I have a selection of clay pipes from different eras.

“Unfortunately we haven’t had many huge archaeological finds in Watford – although there is a wealth of history in the town.”

Visitors were able to make jewellery based on the Bronze era out of card and glitter, and were also treated to a number of activities relating to the excavation of a roundhouse – courtesy of television personality and archaeologist Julian Richards.

Lucy Simpson, who had come from King Langley, said: “The main draw for me today was to see Julian Richards, but it has been lots of fun also looking at the collection of artifacts found in the Thames.

“What has always puzzled me was how people know what’s rubbish or what they have found is of archaeological value.

“I’ve learnt today that most of these people will always confer with experts or literature on the subject – it really has been an eye opener.”