Archaeology ‘Open Lab’ - an Auckland Project Exhibition
16 Jan – 31 Dec 2026 · Bishop Auckland
About this event
About Archaeologists uncovering the hidden history of Auckland Palace are inviting the public behind the scenes as historic finds from eight years of excavations are analysed in a new ‘open laboratory’ in Bishop Auckland town centre. After the trowels are put down, the archaeological work continues in the post-excavation’ phase. This work involves looking in detail at all the objects we dug up. We weight, count, catalogue and describe everything that we found so that we can understand even more about how the Bishops’ Palace was used. Normally this work happens in laboratories behind closed doors, but we’ve decided to bring these objects back to Bishop Auckland and work public view here in our ‘open lab’. On Fridays we’ll be working, and you’re welcome to look in and see what we’re doing. At the end of each Friday between 3.30pm and 4.30pm we’ll be opening the door to invite you in to see up-close what we’ve been working on, and to handle some of the objects that have been uncovered. Check out our Facebook pages (search ‘Hearth – Bishop Auckland) to see updates on our progress.