Discover Dorset's wonderful heritage on walks and at other events with Dorset Council's archaeologists and other archaeologists working in the county.

To book your place or for more information about an event, please email claire.pinder@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or contact us by telephone on 01305 224921. If you email or leave us a voicemail message, please remember to include your name and contact details, and tell us which event you are interested in.

Dorset Archaeological Days

Guided walks, car tours and other outdoor events on archaeological themes.

We're working on our next events and more information will appear here as soon as possible

Finding Dorset

Talks and finds handling sessions looking at different kinds of archaeological finds.

Finds identification: Beaminster Museum, Saturday 11 January 2025, 11am to 2pm

Drop in to show your finds to the Finds Liaison Officer, Portable Antiquities Scheme. Archaeological objects will be on display for you to see and handle.

Venue

Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Road, Beaminster DT8 3NG

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You can also make an appointment to deliver and collect finds for identification at our Ask an archaeologist events

Ask an archaeologist

Meet Dorset Council's archaeologist at venues around the county to discuss your research and bring finds for identification.

Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Minster, Tuesday 26 November 2024, 10am to 1pm

Bookable slots for local researchers and metal detectorists to meet face-to-face to discuss their research, make Historic Environment Record enquiries or drop off and collect finds for identification.

To book a 30-minute slot for finds identification send an email to finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

For general research and Historic Environment Record enquiries email her@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Venue

Museum of East Dorset, 29 High Street, Wimborne Minster BH21 9HR

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Blandford Forum Town Museum, Thursday 28 November 2024, 10am to 1pm

Bookable slots for local researchers and metal detectorists to meet face-to-face to discuss their research, make Historic Environment Record enquiries or drop off and collect finds for identification.

To book a 30-minute slot for finds identification send an email to finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

For general research and Historic Environment Record enquiries email her@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Venue

Blandford Forum Town Museum, Bere's Yard, Blandford Forum DT11 7HQ

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Beaminster Museum, Saturday 11 January 2025, 11am to 2pm

Drop in to show your finds to the Finds Liaison Officer, Portable Antiquities Scheme. Archaeological objects will be on display for you to see and handle.

Venue

Beaminster Museum, Whitcombe Road, Beaminster DT8 3NG

What3Words: ///sniff.provider.buildings

Poole Central Library, Tuesday 28 January 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Poole Central Library, Dolphin Centre, Poole BH15 1QE

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Sturminster Newton Museum, Thursday 30 January 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Sturminster Newton Museum, 1 Old Market Cross House, Market Cross, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AN

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Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Minster, Tuesday 25 March 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Museum of East Dorset, 23-29 High Street, Wimborne Minster BH21 1HR

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Blandford Town Museum, Thursday 27 March 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Blandford Town Museum, Bere's Yard, Blandford Forum DT11 7HQ

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Dorset History Centre, Saturday 5 April 2025, 10am to 12.30pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RP

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Poole Central Library, Tuesday 27 May 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Poole Central Library, Dolphin Centre, Poole BH15 1QE

What3Words: ///vibrate.occurs.react

Sturminster Newton Museum, Thursday 29 May 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Sturminster Newton Museum, 1 Old Market Cross House, Market Cross, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AN

What3Words: ///wing.elsewhere.blemishes

Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Minster, Tuesday 29 July 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Museum of East Dorset, 23-29 High Street, Wimborne Minster BH21 1HR

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Blandford Town Museum, Thursday 31 July 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Blandford Town Museum, Bere's Yard, Blandford Forum DT11 7HQ

What3Words: ///release.viewer.vipers

Dorset History Centre, Saturday 2 August 2025, 10am to 12.30pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RP

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Dorset History Centre, Saturday 13 September 2025, 10am to 12.30pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Dorset History Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RP

What3Words: ///hindering.perfume.beards

Poole Central Library, Tuesday 23 September 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Poole Central Library, Dolphin Centre, Poole BH15 1QE

What3Words: ///vibrate.occurs.react

Sturminster Newton Museum, Thursday 25 September 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Sturminster Newton Museum, 1 Old Market Cross House, Market Cross, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AN

What3Words: ///wing.elsewhere.blemishes

Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Minster, Tuesday 25 November 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Museum of East Dorset, 23-29 High Street, Wimborne Minster BH21 1HR

What3Words: ///cover.fallen.reference

Blandford Town Museum, Thursday 27 November 2025, 10am to 1pm

Claire Pinder, Dorset Council's Senior Archaeologist, and Ciorstaidh Hayward Trevarthen, Finds Liaison Officer for Dorset, will be available to answer your questions about Dorset's historic environment and identify your finds.

Please contact finds@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk to make an appointment

Venue

Blandford Town Museum, Bere's Yard, Blandford Forum DT11 7HQ

What3Words: ///release.viewer.vipers

Day schools, talks and other events

Occasional events such as day schools on different periods and themes, online talks, and training for volunteers and amateur archaeologists including metal detectorists

We're working on our next events and more information will appear here as soon as possible

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