PORTLAND: All Roman at the museum

The event on June 1st runs from 10.30am-4pm at Portland Museum and it will be celebrating all things Roman in recognition of the island’s heritage.

The Museum holds many Roman artefacts which have been discovered on Portland including the very rare duck brooch uncovered during the Weston Road excavations. It also has several large Roman stone sarcophagi all carved using hand tools.

Many activities will be going on throughout the day including a chance to make a Roman style mosaic tile from card as well as practice designs with some real clay mosaic tile pieces.

Children can also make a good fortune pouch where they can place a wish and a lucky charm, just like the superstitious Romans used to. They will also have an opportunity to make a laurel style crown and learn the symbolic importance of the laurel leaf to the Romans.

Youngsters will also be able to make a paper plate clock complete with Roman numerals while an expert will be on hand with a selection of real Roman coins for children to look at and handle and there will be a selection of  cakes to buy, baked using authentic Roman recipes.

A artefact hunt will be held where children will be asked to find various Roman objects hidden away in the museum.

Archaeologist and re-enactment specialist Dee Reilly will be showing the children what life was like for ordinary Roman British citizens with demonstrations of cooking, pot making and other aspects of ancient technology while Pat Moverley who will be helping children create Roman shields and a head of the fearsome Medusa complete with snake hair!

The event will cost £3 on the door for children and parents go free. A small charge will apply to those wishing to make a shield, filled rolls and other refreshments available to buy. All money raised goes towards funding the development of exhibitions, conservation of artefacts and developing the museum’s education and outreach programme.

For more information please contact Lisa Gravett on 01305 821804 or e mail: [email protected]  or visit portlandmuseum.co.uk.