Indiana Jones wannabes have the chance to find out how best to hunt history thanks to summer fun in Swansea.
An archaeology day at Swansea Museum and free access to the 1911 Census are among the options at the disposal of people looking to learn tricks of the trade or research the pasts of their families.
The national archaeology day is being held on Saturday July 17 and will include Roman cookery as well as other sights, sounds and smells from long ago. It’s being organised by Swansea Council and the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust.
Free access to the 1911 Census is also being made available at the specialist West Glamorgan Archives service points in Swansea Civic Centre and the Neath Mechanics Institute.
The census is the first of its kind to show the handwriting and signatures of our ancestors and includes information about the 2.4 million people living in Wales at the time.
The free access to the census and the Find My Past website is being made available thanks to a grant from Welsh Assembly Government.
Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: “The combination of the national archaeology day and free access to the 1911 Census gives people some wonderful opportunities to learn about history and conduct their own research in the summer months.
“Archaeology has always been a subject that sparks the imagination and the success of recent TV programmes on genealogy means family history research is now more popular than ever.
“Events and access of this nature mean people have expertise and resources at their disposal that will serve as inspiration and get many started on an enjoyable and satisfying hobby.”
Some of the other events taking place at Swansea’s cultural venues in July include a guest reader at the Dylan Thomas Centre bookshop on Thursday July 29.
Swansea-born author Joe Dunthorne, whose debut novel Submarine was in the running for the Dylan Thomas Prize, will be on hand from 7.30pm.
Visit www.discoveringswansea.com for more information on Swansea’s cultural venues and events.
