Wiltshire's archaeological treasures will form the basis of a week-long festival this summer. The Wiltshire Archaeology Festival is bringing a jam-packed programme of events to the county aimed at opening up our ancient world to children and adults alike.

Activities will include guided tours, lectures with archaeology experts, treasure handling days and demonstrations.

The festival, from July 27 to August 2, is organised by the WAF 2003 volunteer project board.

Sponsorship has come from Awards for All, Kennet District Council, the Robert Kiln Charitable Trust, North Wiltshire District Council and Swindon Borough Council. English Heritage and the Wiltshire Archaeology and Natural History Society are giving additional help.

Katy Whitaker, board chairman, said: "We are committed to making local history and heritage enjoyable and accessible to everyone."

Guided tours and lectures will cover well-known sites throughout the county, encompassing the early Neolithic age to the present day.

And the more creative participants will have the chance to try their hand at age-old skills.

Re-enactors will demonstrate activities from the past such as weaving, bone working and mail making.

The lectures and tours are free, except for three Stonehenge private access visits, which cost £10.

The programme kicks off with a lecture and all-day walking tour at Fyfield and Overton Downs on Sunday, July 27. Led by Professor Peter Fowler, the day starts with a lecture at the National Trust Study Centre, in Avebury, at 10.30am.

This will be followed by an exploratory walk taking in the mythology and folklore surrounding Avebury and Stonehenge, and prehistoric burial places.

For information pick up a leaflet from your local library or e-mail archaeology2003@hotmail.com

The county of Wiltshire is home to some of the most impressive ancient treasures in the world.

Stonehenge is recognised the world over, while the stone circles at Avebury form one of the most complete prehistoric complexes in Europe.

Other monuments include Silbury Hill, Windmill Hill, the Sanctuary and West Kennet Long Barrow.

Make a date to learn more about the area's heritage

Activities in the Wiltshire Archaeology Festival 2003 include:

Sunday, July 27

North Meadow National Nature Reserve, in Cricklade, from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Led by David Massen, English Nature Warden, the walk around North Meadow will demonstrate the history of English meadows and the particular type of eighteenth-century management system which is still in place in Cricklade.

Monday, July 28

The Amesbury Archer - King of Stonehenge at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. The lecture, by Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick of Wessex Archaeology, will discuss the grave of a man dating to around 2,300BC, which was discovered three miles from Stonehenge by Wessex Archaeology staff in May 2002. His grave was the richest from this period the early Bronze Age ever found in Britain and contained the country's first gold objects.

Thursday, July 31

A Landscape History walking tour at The Lawns Park, Swindon, from 7pm to 8pm. The Lawns, one of Swindon's Conservation Areas, had a natural spring that flowed from the top of the hill, which made the site perfect for settlement and Stone Age, Bronze Age, Saxon and Roman remains have been found. The tour will be conducted by Charlotte Riggs, landscape architect, at Swindon Borough Council.

Stonehenge tours will be held on July 29, and 30, and August 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10.