Mersey and Dee YAC
Mersey and Dee YAC is open to everyone aged 8-16 years. At our club you will be able to come along and learn about different periods of history, visit and investigate local archaeological sites (and take part in excavations!) and historic places, try out traditional crafts, and so much more!
We are based at the Museum of Liverpool on the iconic Liverpool Pier Head and, usually meet once a month on Saturday mornings. To get an idea about what we have to offer in our sessions, check out our What’s On section further down the page. Our club is run by the Museum of Liverpool’s Regional Archaeology Curator, Learning and Participation team, and a team of dedicated YAC volunteers. If you’d like to know more about how we recruit our volunteers, please have a look at our FAQs.
Contact: Vanessa Oakden, Curator of Regional & Community Archaeology, Museum of Liverpool
Our membership costs £30 for the year and which includes our weekend (running from 10am to 11:30 am) and occasional weekend or holiday day sessions.
Our club is divided into two groups – our Viking group members are 8 – 12 years old and our Roman group are 12 – 16 years old.
Our club is currently full for 10-16yr old’s however we currently have limited space for 8 and 9 year old’s to join us. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more. In the meantime, you can find out more about regional archaeology here.
What’s on at Mersey and Dee YAC
2025 – 2026 Programme – Please see further down the page for YAC Romans (age 11/12-16)
YAC Vikings (aged 8-11/12)
12 September Discover Archaeology! Learn more about archaeology in this hand on introductory session. 10-11.30am, Museum of Liverpool, EA2.
17 October TBC
21 November Ancient Egypt Come to see the important to the ancient Egyptian objects to the people of Egypt more than 3000 years ago. Taking on the role of archaeologists as you look at and handle the museum artefacts. We will explain the correct handling techniques as they are being allowed to touch ancient objects from our collections. 10-11.30, World Museum Liverpool
16 January TBC
27 February Recycling In this session we will explore what people recycled in the past. Learn about the different materials people recycled and the processes used, from roman glass to historic buildings. 10-11.30 Museum of Liverpool, EA2
20 March TBC
17 April TBC
15 May Graveyard Recording at St. James’ Join us at St James’ Cemetery to discover how Victorians are remembered. Learn how to record gravestones and explore what their symbols and materials can tell us about the people and communities who made them. Who was remembered, who was forgotten, and what secrets can we uncover about their lives? 10am-12pm, St. James’ Cemetery, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
19 June TBC
10 July TBC
YAC Romans (aged 11/12-16)
12 September Pottery Processing Discover how archaeologists process & record pottery in this hands-on session. Learn how pottery is dated and what it can tell us about people in the past. 10am-11.30am, Museum of Liverpool, EA3
17 October TBC
21 November Sheffield Castle excavations Discover the archaeology of Sheffield and what has been unearthed during hte Sheffield Castle excavations. Get hands on with some of the finds with Wessex Archaeology. 10-11.30am, Museum of Liverpool, EA3
16 January TBC
27 February Benin Come and learn about the daily lives and spiritual practices of the Edo people. What did they eat, celebrate, trade, and create? Whilst also debating the displacement of sacred objects and how they arrived in the museum. 10-11.30 World Discovery Centre, World Museum Liverpool.
20 March Podcast Prep Join us for a creative session as we prepare topics and share ideas for next month’s podcast recording session 10-11.30 Museum of Liverpool.
17 April YAC Podcast Experience being an archaeological podcaster as we join the museum’s digital team and record a podcast of our own. 10.30-11, Pilotage Building
15 May Graveyard Recording at St. James’ Join us at St James’ Cemetery to discover how Victorians are remembered. Learn how to record gravestones and explore what their symbols and materials can tell us about the people and communities who made them. Who was remembered, who was forgotten, and what secrets can we uncover about their lives? 10am-12pm, St. James’ Cemetery, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
19 June TBC
10 July TBC
