BUDDING archaeologists will get a taste for the work that goes into dig in the Yorkshire Dales.

Children from Swaledale and Arkengarthdale will attend two events to give them an introduction to archaeology in the first field event of the lottery-backed Swaledale Big Dig today and on Monday, April 28.

Youngsters aged from seven to 11 met today at Gunnerside Methodist School to help set grids for a geographical survey of their playing field and analyse the results; and on Monday they will help dig a test pit.

The event is being organised and supervised by the staff of the Reeth Community and Gunnerside Methodist Federated Primary Schools, and supported by members of the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group (SWAAG), which is managing the Big Dig project.

Pupils from Arkengarthdale Church of England School are also involved.

Alan Mills, SWAAG project manager, said: “The main field events, in and around Reeth, do not begin until the middle of May but as part of the project’s commitment to contribute to education in the community I am delighted that we have this early opportunity to get involved with the local schools.

“The children will be able to see the surveying equipment that they might otherwise only have seen on television. And in setting out the survey grid so that the corners are set at perfect right-angles they will have a rare opportunity to make practical use of the Pythagoras theorem. Hopefully they will also find something of interest under the soil.”