Past in Our Hands

Across the Festival fortnight, we’ll be sharing short films, blog posts, and stories from people actively involved in archaeology across the UK. Some are just starting out. Others have spent decades in the field. All of them offer a different way of understanding what archaeology is, and what it can be.

Archaeology happens in muddy trenches, in labs, in archives, on building sites, in community halls, and in people’s spare time. It’s carried out by students, volunteers, specialists, and professionals who all bring something different to the work.

The Past In Our Hands is a new part of the Festival of Archaeology that brings those people and experiences together.

You’ll hear about first digs and long careers, fieldwork and finds, archives and analysis, unexpected routes in, and ways you can engage in daily life with archaeology.

How to Get Involved

There are lots of ways to join in the fun!

I’m interested in archaeology

Send us a question for Ask an Archaeologist day! One of our network of archaeologists may film a response
Get involved on the day - you can also send a question on the day to archaeologists online across the UK by using #PastInOurHands and tagging us @ArchaeologyUK.
Follow our socials @ArchaeologyUK across the Festival to watch the latest content!

Parent and child digging with an archaeological trowel

I’m an Archaeologist, Volunteer, or Student!

The Past In Our Hands is open to anyone involved in archaeology, in any capacity. You might want to:

Share a short video about what you do
Talk about a project, collection, or place that matters to you.
Write a blog
Answer questions that we have collected from the public - you could film a response in advance or get involved on Ask an Archaeologist Day

Get in touch with us for more info! Simply email us at: festival@archaeologyuk.org

Want to discover more ways you can get involved with the Festival of Archaeology?

Explore our Organisers area to find out more about running your own Festival event, or get in touch for more ideas!

#AskAnArchaeologist Day returns in 2026 as part of the Past in Our Hands!

Join us live on the 24th July across social media to take part, either by asking questions or answering them. Use #AskAnArchaeologist in your posts to take part. We'll be running AskAnArchaeologist with short form content across Insta, Facebook, and TikTok, and live responses over on X and BlueSky.

Blog submission guide

Short video submission guide

Step 1: Plan Your Content 📝

Get in Touch: Email us at Festival@archaeologyUK.org to let us know you'll be taking part and to recieve a selection of questions to answer and a style guide.
Topic: Decide which aspect of your personal experience studying, volunteering, or working in archaeology you want to share. Highlight what makes your day unique and interesting.
Outline: Plan a brief outline of your video to ensure you cover all key points within the time limit (90 seconds or less).

Step 2: Record Your Video 🎥

Lighting and Sound: Ensure you have good lighting and clear audio. Filming in a quiet, well-lit environment is ideal.
Vertical Format: Record your video in a vertical (portrait) format to fit Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts.
Engaging Intro: Start with an engaging introduction to grab the viewer’s attention (e.g., "Hi, I’m [Your Name], and I'm taking part in the Festival of Archaeology's Past in Our Hands").
Personal Experience: Show and explain your activities, tools, environment, and any interesting findings or insights from your personal perspective.
Outro: End with a brief conclusion or a call to action. Encourage others to get involved in your aspect of archaeology!

Step 3: Edit Your Video ✂️

Trimming: Edit out any unnecessary parts to keep your video concise and engaging.
Captions and Overlays: Add captions, text overlays, or music to enhance your video.
Add our logo: Please include our Festival logo which can be found here. It can be used in the corner of your video or in the intro.
Review: Watch your video to ensure it flows well and is within the 90-second limit.

Or you can send your content to us to edit! We will send it back to you for approval before posting.

Step 4: Upload Your Video 📲

Choose Platform: Upload your video to your chosen platform: Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts.
Title and Description: Use a descriptive title and include relevant details in the description
Tags and Hashtags: Add tags and hashtags to increase visibility. Use our event hashtags: #PastInOurHands and #FestivalOfArchaeology

Step 5: Share video Link with Us 🔗

Collaborative Post (Instagram Only): If you’re uploading to Instagram, you have the option to do a collaborative post with the CBA. Here’s how:
1. Upload your video as an Instagram Reel.
2. Tap on “Tag People” and then “Invite Collaborator.”
3. Search for and select @ArchaeologyUK to invite us as a collaborator.
Copy Link: Once your video is uploaded, copy the link to your video.
Submit Link and Thumbnail: Submit your video link here. Fill in the required details (e.g., your name, email, a brief description of your video), paste the link, and upload a thumbnail image for your video.
Confirm: Double-check your information and click "Submit."

Step 6: Engage and Enjoy! 🎉

Sit Back: We'll take it from here and share your video across our social media platforms.
Join the Conversation: Engage with the community by following the hashtag #PastInOurHands. Comment, like, and share posts to keep the conversation going! You can also join us live for #AskAnArchaeologist Day to share your responses to questions or answer them live!

Tips for a Great Video 🌟

Be Authentic: Share your genuine experiences and insights. We want to see your unique personality shine.
Show, Don’t Just Tell: Use visuals to complement your narration.
Accessibility: Try to avoid technical jargon, or make sure you include clear explanations. When editing content add subtitles, and make sure any on-screen text used has good contrast with the background. A top tip is to use white text with a black outline.