As part of its ongoing ‘Connect at Calderstones’ project supported by the Heritage Lottery fund The Reader Organisation alongside National Museums Liverpool will be offering a number of heritage activities and events within Calderstones Park over the coming months.
The biggest of these projects ‘The Big Dig’ will take place over April and May, over a two week digging period visitors will help explore the park with the hopes of unearthing some hidden history; named after the Neolithic ‘Calder’ stones – the earliest human monument in Merseyside. Calderstones Park will be accessed for the first time by the public for historical excavations. Anyone from the community is welcome to take part whilst the dig takes place between 27th and the 8th May with progress and updates charted through “The Big Dig” blog at www.caldiesbigdig.org.uk .
“The Calderstones are of national importance and this dig is an exciting opportunity for people in the local area to get involved in a community dig and support The Readers plans for the future.”
“As the park has never been built on there could be anything under our feet. We may even find evidence of the first humans to live in this area – relics of the earliest scousers!” – Richard MacDonald, Heritage Stories Maker, The Reader Organisation
Before the dig begins visitors to the house will have the opportunity to take part in a number of free preparatory events allowing them to learn more about the excavation process. “Ready to Get Digging” will take place on Thursday 19th February from 2pm – 4pm in the Mansion house and will allow visitors the chance to gain insight into the day in the life of an Archaeologist. On Thursday 5th March Ron Cowell, Curator of Prehistory at the Museum of Liverpool will be giving a talk about the Calder Stones themselves and Merseyside during the Stone Age at 7pm. These events are free to attend and can be registered for at http://www.thereader.org.uk/events or http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/events.
