The Mandurah Community Museum is inviting hopeful young archaeologists to dig with them these school holidays.
The Extent Heritage team will run a series of four free activities from January 29-31 with professional archaeologists.
Students will uncover hidden relics and histories and learn about archaeology at the Dig event.
Archaeologists will be excavating the environment gallery, adjacent to the Old Schoolroom, before it is re-floored.
In the first dig at the Museum in close to 10 years, they will be exploring and recording any artefacts found.
With the Mandurah Community Museum steeped in local history, a number of hidden treasures could be waiting underneath the floor to be uncovered.
The original Museum building was the Dalrymple School built in the 1900s, and was then transformed into a police station from 1948-1989.
The community is invited to register for the workshops and discover a part of Mandurah's history.
Free activities:
What Lies Beneath
- Learn about what archaeologists do and how by observing the professionals in action working on a real excavation. This activity will run from January 29-31, is open for all ages and bookings are not required.
Raiders of the Lost Yard
- Children and young people can become an archaeologist for the day, with the opportunity for hands-on excavation in a practice pit outside the Museum. This includes uncovering, identifying, bagging, labelling and recording artefacts. This activity will run from January 29-31 and bookings are required.
Assist an Archaeologist
- Older History buffs can register for a one-on-one session with an archaeologist and participate in the excavation of the actual site. This activity will run from January 29-31, is only eligible for those aged over 16 and bookings are required for 30-minute digs.
Talkin' 'bout my excavation
- Join museum development officer Nicholas Reynolds and an archaeologist as they discuss the background to the project and the Old Schoolroom, the process involved in preparing for and undertaking the archaeological investigations, and why it was done, what was found and what happens next. This is a public lecture on Friday, January 31 from 10-11.30am and bookings are required.
For more information about activity session times and age requirements, visit the City of Mandurah website.
To book a session, call the Museum on 9550 3683 or email museum@mandurah.wa.gov.au.
The Mandurah Community Museum is located at 3 Pinjarra Road, and is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am - 4pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-3pm.