A group of young people conducting an archaeological excavation

Hands-on archaeology for young people across the UK

The Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) is the only UK-wide club where 8–16 year olds can participate in real archaeology and discover why it matters. If you want to become a professional archaeologist in the future or just feel like taking up an amazing new hobby, YAC is the right place for you!

About YAC
Nine young people wearing hats and backpacks stand around large rocks in the middle of a grassy field on a sunny day.

Club spotlight: Cornwall YAC

Since launching in November 2025, Cornwall YAC have been busy with fieldtrips, test-pitting, digital reconstructions and much more, with exciting plans for the 2026 Festival of Archaeology too!

“We are delighted that now, with support from the Council for British Archaeology, our new team and existing partners, we can offer engaging and exciting activities for budding archaeologists right across Cornwall… We’re excited to help our branch spark an interest in archaeology, connect with our local history and heritage, and build valuable skills that go far beyond the field.”

Cornwall YAC

A group of adults all wearing blue t shirts. Two on the right are holding measuring sticks, whilst the two on the left are holding measuring tapes.

Become a volunteer

Our 80+ YACs across the UK could not operate without the hard work and dedication of over 500 volunteers. Find out more about volunteering with one of our existing CBA-managed YAC branches on our volunteering page.

We are also working on developing volunteering opportunities for our older YAC members. You can find out more about this on our Young Leaders Pathway page.

If you’re interested in starting a new YAC branch, visit our Set up a new club page to find out about the different types of branches we run and the support we offer our YAC leaders.

Become a volunteer