Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC)

Title

Description

The Archaeological Resource Centre, or ARC, opened in 1990 in St Saviour’s Church as an educational space focusing on the processes of archaeology, with emphasis on hands-on experiences with artefacts and replicas. It also operated as a temporary exhibition space, and the churchyard was later developed into a multi-sensory accessible garden.

Although the ARC was initially used for exhibitions such as Viking Ships and Russian Holograms, it was redeveloped in the autumn of 1989 into a permanent space for archaeological education with an interactive experience called “Touching the Past.” Visitors were given a video introduction to the process of archaeology, and then led through three different types of archaeological activity beginning with the handling of actual artefacts and samples. The second section focused on experimental archaeology, introducing historical techniques such as spinning and leatherwork. The third section discussed archaeological computing, including cataloguing and the creation of digital plans. There was then the opportunity to observe staff at work before exiting the museum into the garden with its display of architectural fragments. Although intended to cater to all visitors, the ARC was particularly well-suited to school groups, and also served as a venue for lectures and seminars. It continued to host exhibitions on a variety of topics, ranging from Roman women at the frontiers of Empire to First Nations peoples, and served as a hub for groups including local historians, metal detectorists, and the Young Archaeologists’ Club.

The second iteration of the Archaeological Resource Centre, known as ARC2, opened in 1999. In this redeveloped experience, visitors were first introduced to concepts of stratigraphy, which then formed the basis of an investigation into finds and samples from an imagined Viking site. Working with an archaeologist, visitors were then invited to draw conclusions about the site based on their findings.

In August 2001, a garden combining historical plants and architectural fragments to create an accessible multi-sensory experience was opened in the churchyard behind the ARC.

The ARC closed in July 2005 and was reopened as DIG: An Archaeological Adventure in March 2006, combining ARC’s principles of hands-on archaeology with a permanent exhibition space.

Date

5 February 1990 (opening date)

July 2005 (closure date)

Relation

DIG: An Archaeological Adventure

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