THE famous Time Team geodome will be set up in the grounds of Corfe Castle during the weekend of Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July, with exciting, interactive activities for all ages, as part of the family fun, walks, talks and film screenings that make up the Festival of Archaeology.

The festival is a UK wide celebration of archaeology by the Council for British Archaeology, with the aim to engage the public with their local history and to foster a sense of community. The 1,000-year-old Corfe Castle has seen its fair share of archaeological excavations, but the ruins still hold many mysteries.

For the Festival of Archaeology, the team has created a programme of family exploration and hands-on activities including medieval dress-up, flotation tank demonstrations, a mock excavation, live demonstrations of blacksmithing, medieval tile making, leather-working and stone masonry.

Time Team’s cCreator and series producer Tim Taylor says: “Corfe Castle is the perfect setting to bring archaeology to life for all ages. We’re thrilled to be working with the National Trust for this special weekend, giving families a chance to step into history and try their hand at ancient crafts. This is going to be interesting because we’re not excavating but it is a great opportunity for some of our crew to engage with visitors through activities in the geodome. It’s what Time Team is all about – making archaeology exciting, accessible and unforgettable”.

Time Team Director Emily Boulting says: “The team excavated nearby at Wytch Farm in 2023 so this is a great opportunity to return with the geodome and meet visitors. I’ll be giving an informal talk about the filming of Time Team, which will offer behind-the-scenes insights into the Time Team world”.

The weekend also marks the start of the summer of play at Corfe Castle. Families can enjoy a variety of games and activities throughout the ruins, including archery, slingshots, balance beams and garden games.

Other activities during the Festival of Archaeology, which runs to 31st July, include a talk and behind the scenes footage about Time Team’s 2023 archaeological excavation in the Corfe Castle area, drop-in days to discover finds from excavations at Corfe Castle and walks and talks from the local heritage and archaeology ranger team. Various guided walks around the landscape at Corfe Castle complete the festival programme.

For more information visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle

Pictures © National Trust – Neil Davidson, Paul Harris; © Time Team – Harvey Mills