New Archaeology and Nature Resource Pack: Festival of Archaeology 2026!

July 2026

To celebrate the 2026 Festival of Archaeology, the Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) have created a bumper resource pack with six new activity ideas based on the Festival’s theme of Archaeology and Nature.

The pack has been created by members of the Council for British Archaeology’s Youth Advisory Board and university placement students.

Archaeology and nature are interconnected revealing how humans have lived with, shaped, and been shaped by the environment around them. By exploring the past using the climate, geology, animals, plants, landscapes and the effect of nature on archaeological sites and buildings today, we can understand how places and communities evolve and develop.

In this new resource pack, you will be able to explore this theme through a variety of activities that will take you across the world and back home again! You can explore the crafts and communities of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads; bake your own Simnel Cake, delve into the world of ghostly folklore and take a deep dive into how the broads were shaped by human-hands. We also explore Ancient Egyptian make-up, votive deposition and monumental landscapes crafted from stone. This resource pack has something for everyone; you can craft and bake in the comfort of your own home, bringing nature indoors or head out in to your local places and spaces to help inspire your creativity and take a moment to connect with the world around you.

A huge Thank You to our creators!!!!

This resource pack has been co-created by young people for young people. All the resources have been developed by the Council for British Archaeology’s Youth Advisors and student placements.

Amalia has explored the relationship between sacred landscapes and votive deposits from across the world and Emily takes us to Ancient Egypt to learn more about cosmetics and how they were sourced from nature. Devanshi has moved us forward in time to the early medieval period, as we take a look at runic inscriptions and runestones carved into monoliths and landscapes across northern Europe. Finally, Amelia explores the Norfolk broads where she was brought up, sharing her creative writing background and love of baking.

Together they have created an exciting set of activities aimed at anyone aged 8–16 which are free to access.

Download the Resource Pack and individual activities below:

We hope you enjoy these new activities. You can also access many more individual and session resources here: YAC Resources