SCARBOROUGH Museums Trust is celebrating the area’s rich archaeology with a packed day of fun activities for all the family.

The annual Festival of Archaeology will take place across the Trust’s three venues – the Rotunda Museum, Scarborough Art Gallery and Woodend – on Saturday, July 20.

At the Rotunda, archaeologists from the University of York will be on hand all day, from10am to 4pm, to give demonstrations of flint knapping - shaping flints to make tools and help visitors make a shale pendant, whilst local educators Heritage Adventures will lead a mini dig.

There will also be the opportunity to handle genuine artefacts and make clay pots, while leading children’s author Saviour Pirotta will read and perform his stories of the Stone Age and Greek myths at 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Meanwhile at the Art Gallery, visitors can explore their creative side with printing using natural materials in their morning from 10am to noon, and cave painting with charcoal and pastels from 2pm to 4pm.

At Woodend, Yorkshire coast explorers Hidden Horizons will be in residence all day teaching Stone Age survival skills, including making a fire, foraging, building a shelter and cooking outdoors.

There will also be behind-the-scenes tours of the exhibits in the Scarborough Collections at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm (booking essential on 01723 384500).

All the activities, apart from the store tours, which are bookable in advance, are drop-in and free.

Scarborough Museums Trust Learning Manager Ruth Yoxon said: “Scarborough has a long and vibrant history, so is a goldmine for archaeologists – we hope our events might inspire some future experts.”

Children under 18 get free entry into all SMT venues; for activities, children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult, who must hold a £3 Annual Pass to gain free entry.

For more information on activities and events at Scarborough Art Gallery, the Rotunda Museum and Woodend, please call 01723 384503 or visit the website: http://www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.com/whats-on/