Every year the historic environment team organises an Archaeology Day which is open to everyone interested the archaeology and history of the National Park. We have some of the most iconic and best preserved historic landscapes in the country which attracts many researchers and local groups.
The venue rotates each year to different locations in and around the National Park and is now held in the Autumn, providing an opportunity for individuals and societies to disseminate the results of their recent work and to find out what is happening. The buildings, monuments, sites and landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are its ‘heritage assets’. They reflect the history of the area and help make it such a special place.
The Dales Archaeology Day 2026 will take place in Middleham Key Centre (Park Lane, Middleham, Leyburn, DL8 4RA) on the 21st March 2026, with a variety of talks, stalls and displays. Ticket bookings have now closed for this year.
Please note a change has been made to the previously advertised programme with a different talk now scheduled for the 10.20am slot. The programme for our 2026 event is as follows:
Dales Archaeology Day 2026 – Programme
10.00: Introduction – Luke Bassnett Barker (YDNPA Countryside Archaeological Advisor)
10.10: Luke Bassnett Barker (YDNPA Countryside Archaeological Adviser)- Re-launching the Monuments at Risk survey
10.20: Douglas Mitcham (YDNPA Community Heritage Officer/Countryside Archaeological Advisor (Ure Dales)) – Gamelands Stone Circle: A community archaeology project
11.00: Refreshments break (20 mins)
11.20: Sonia O’Connor (Honorary Visiting Researcher at the School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford) and Terry O’Connor (Emeritus Professor of Archaeological Sciences, University of York) – Perforated Spoons of Roman Britain
12.00: Geoff M. Smith (University of Reading, Senior Researcher in Zooarchaeology) – Ancient Proteins from Victoria Cave (Yorkshire): Hyaenas, Mammoths, and the Search for Early Humans
12.40: Lunch break (1hr 30 mins)
14.10: Kristina Krawiec (York Archaeological Trust, FSA Head of Geoarchaeology) – The Landscape as Archaeology– Investigations into the Deepdale Valley Peats
14.50: Calum Stott (YDNPA Area Ranger (Cumbria)) – Stones of Strength– Recovering the tradition of Stone Lifting in England
15.30: Discussion
16.00: Close
In addition to the variety of talks there will be the usual displays and stalls showcasing activities by local societies.
If you want to know more about the Dales Archaeology Day events or are interested in bringing a display or giving a talk in future, please contact us at DalesArchaeologyDay@yorkshiredales.org.uk
