Join us for International Archaeology Day 2026!
Join us at Acadia University for an afternoon of special hands-on workshops for International Archaeology Day!
This event will take place between 11am and 2pm across several "stations" - no registration necessary, just show up and drop-in on the activities! All ages are welcome, this is a family-friendly event. See 5000-year old archaeological objects on display for the first time to the public; explore archaeological sites through virtual reality; try your hand at writing your name in ancient hieroglyphs; visit archaeological excavations taking place on Acadia campus - and much more!!
Archaeology Day Featured Projects
Digging for Acadia
(Location: Outside! Campus green behind University Hall, next to Seminary)
Digging for Acadia is an exciting new archaeological, archival, and geophysical investigation that is happening on campus! It is led by faculty members from three different departments (History & Classics, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Archives) who are interested in uncovering the location of Acadia’s first College Hall, which burned down in 1877. The three co-directors are leading a special topics course this fall where students will try to unearth the foundations of College Hall, using archived maps, pictures and records to bring this lost piece of Acadia’s history back into the public eye. For more information and updates, please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @DiggingforAcadia
On International Archaeology Day, co-directors Chelsea Gardner, Wendy Robicheau, and Mo Snyder will show the public around the archaeological site on campus. Attendees will be able to tour the excavation site, try their hand at ground-penetrating radar, and chat with the students about their ongoing research. Come on out and see a live excavation, right on Acadia’s campus!
Acadia Centre for Critical Play
(Location: Vaughn Memorial Library Room 241)
The Acadia Centre for Critical Play (ACCP) is a new research lab founded by Acadia faculty members Dr. Natalie Swain (History & Classics), Dr. Jon Saklofske (English & Theatre), and Librarian Mike Beasley. Their goal is to provide an on-campus space where video games can be critically explored, experienced, and understood in an Arts & Humanities context. The ACCP is a unique resource in Atlantic Canada that will grow into a regional hub for video game studies, welcoming speakers, hosting conferences, and organizing game jams.
For International Archaeology Day, Natalie Swain and Jon Saklofske will be providing virtual reality (VR) equipment and video game demos. Participants can try out some of the interactive games or take virtual tours of archaeological sites from many miles away.
“What’s in the Box? Acadia’s Archival Collections on Display”
(Location: Vaughn Memorial Library, Quiet Reading Room)
For the first time, the archaeological artifacts held in Acadia’s archives will be on display for folks to see! These include 5000-year-old objects from ancient Mesopotamia, coin collections from all over the world, neolithic stone tools, and objects related to Acadia’s history. These objects will be accompanied by Dr. Nick Kraus, curator at the British Museum, and Acadia’s own Professor Scott Coleman – together they will provide information about many of the objects on display. This will be the first time these ancient objects will be publicly visible - don’t miss this exciting opportunity to come see them yourself!
"Relics of the Recent Past: Saving Old Media for the Future"
(Location: Vaughn Memorial Library Room 246)
Clay tablets and stone tools have survived for thousands of years. Our tapes and disks might survive too, but will anyone be able to read them? Remember mixtapes? Burning CDs? Saving files to a floppy disk? These "ancient" artifacts are already degrading. Come get your hands on a pile of retro tech and join archivist Ciaran Purdome for a peek at how old recordings and files are moved to new formats before they’re gone for good.
Make your own artifact! Art Gallery Lab
(Location: Beveridge Arts Centre Room 131, behind the Art Gallery)
On International Archaeology Day, the Acadia Art Gallery will be hosting hands-on, kid-friendly activities for the whole family to try! Options include a “make your own cuneiform tablet” activity, write your name in ancient Greek and in Middle Egyptian (hieroglyphics!), 3D printed replicas of historical artifacts (like cylinder seals that kids can test themselves), and a demo of how 3D models are made. This event is for all ages, so bring the whole family for some fun with 3D artifacts and crafts!
Please note: there will be student volunteers on-hand to help you find your way; they will be stationed at the entrance to Acadia's Beveridge Arts Centre and the Vaughn Memorial Library. For questions, please contact Chelsea Gardner (chelsea.gardner@acadiau.ca)