This popular and free open day returns for a 9th year and includes talks and activities for all ages plus stands and displays by local societies, archaeological units, metal detectorists, and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.  Held from 10am to 4pm in Milton Keynes Central Library, Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3HL.

The day’s first speakers at 10:30am are John Dillon & Sally Evans from Cotswold Archaeology.  They’ll be presenting The London: The archaeology of a 17th-century warship at risk. A talk detailing the joint project to excavate material at risk from a Protected Wreck lying in the Thames estuary. Project update here: http://www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/the-london-update/

During the interval (11:45am to 1:45pm) there will be a rare opportunity to view David S Neal’s paintings of the recently restored 13th century Cosmati Mosaic Pavement at Westminster Abbey http://www.westminster-abbey.org/conservation  Co-author of the 4 volume Roman Mosaics of Britain, David has spent the last 3 years painstakingly producing these 1:10 scale full colour paintings of the mosaics and will be on hand to explain the process.

At 2pm we welcome Selina Davenport of Cambridge Archaeological Unit. Selina will be presenting an update on work at Must Farm: the Pompeii of the Bronze Age. Previous excavations at this incredible site near Peterborough focused on ancient river channels, recovering nine Bronze Age log boats. In its latest phase excavations are concentrating on an exceptionally well preserved settlement dating to the Late Bronze Age (1000 – 800BC). http://www.mustfarm.com/bronze-age-timber-platform/about/

Don’t forget to bring along any finds or artefacts to be identified by Ros Tyrrell of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, who will be joined by members of the Magiovinium Metal Detector Club and friends with displays of their recent finds.  Displays of recent work by the CLASP Community Landscape & Archaeology Survey Project, Wing Heritage Project, Maids Moreton Mound and the Upper Nene Archaeological Society can be found in the library foyer and on the half-landing. If you’re interested in getting involved in archaeology in the local area these groups all welcome new members.

Upstairs in the Lending Library a team from Cotswold Archaeology will be hosting Hands-On Archaeology Workshops from 10am featuring a range of activities for ages 8+. These practical sessions are on a drop-in basis from 10am to 3pm, come for 5 minutes or 35 minutes.

There will also be a themed story time ‘Digging Dinosaurs’ for ages 7 and under in the children’s library at 11am.

For more information contact Nick Crank, Senior Archaeological Officer on 01908 254259, send an email to archaeology@milton-keynes.gov.uk or visit the event website.