Dig into French history on archaeology days

History buffs are invited to take up their trowels and join in three days of digs and other events as part of France's National Archaeological days.

The ninth annual Journées nationales de l'archéologie run from Friday, June 15, to Sunday, June 17, with a total 1,300 events taking place across the country.

You could, for example, join in a workshop at Caverne du Pont d'Arc in the Ardèche, take a special tour of the Musée de l'outil in Wy-dit-Joli-Village in the Val d'Oise, enjoy a medieval banquet on the feudal mound of Châtel in Ille-et-Vilaine, or watch a demonstration of experimental bronze crafts on the Gallo-Roman site of Sanxay in Vienne.

Last year, more than 155,000 visitors took part in events in 514 towns and villages across the country.

The annual event is organised by Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives (Inrap), which oversees all archaeological digs in France. Each year, it carries out 1,800 archaeological studies and about 250 excavations in partnership with developers across France.

For more information, and to find events in your area, log on to the Journées nationales de l'archéologie website.