Time Travelling by Water

Time Travelling by Water celebrated the Hampshire Water Festival in Romsey last weekend.

Rather appropriately the forecast was for rain and it didn’t disappoint! Hampshire residents weren’t put off by the deluge and the festival was a huge success.

Intrepid explorers visiting the Time Travelling by Water stand learnt about the history of Romsey and dived deep to uncover a range of submerged artefacts – all of which were discovered underwater. This reminded us of how important water has been to people in the past whilst the festival celebrated how important water is to us today.

Time Travelling by Water will be joining the Hampshire Water Festival on the 9^th August 2008 in Romsey.

The Festival celebrates the vital role that water and the natural environment play in our everyday lives. With so much of the water we use hidden in pipes or under the ground it is easy to forget how important it has been for people in the past.

The festival is being held in several locations throughout the town. Since we’re intending to get a little wet, the Time Travelling by Water stand will be in Memorial Park.

Come and visit the stand to find out about the history and prehistory of Romsey and how it has thrived and developed on its riverine setting over the past 10,000 years.

Younger visitors can become underwater archaeologists to explore, excavate and record some real submerged finds using diving and archaeological equipment. Whilst visiting us, take the opportunity to talk to our marine and coastal archaeologists and ask them your questions about what we do and how we do it!

National Archaeology Day 2008 was a great success!

Budding archaeologists who visited the TTBW stand explored a range of archaeological finds that have come from under the water. Artefacts found by marine archaeologists must be kept wet to prevent them drying out too quickly and breaking apart. As all of our finds have to be kept submerged we explored them by plunging our arms into the murky water, and braver visitors donned diving masks and snorkels to get a closer look!

With wet arms and faces we explored the finds to discover which came from the last Ice Age and separated the mammoth teeth from the modern metals.

The day was hugely successful with over 600 visitors enjoying the events, activities and displays that were organised at Salisbury Museum to celebrate this important day in the archaeological calendar.