Teesside care home residents unearth ancient treasures with York Archaeology box

A TREASURE trove of archaeological gems was loaned to a Teesside care home so elderly residents could get hands-on with ancient history.

York Archaeology, which operates the Jorvik Viking Centre, in York, loaned an archaeology box to Mandale House Care Home, on Acklam Road, Thornaby, to coincide with the Festival of Archaeology 2024.

The box brimmed with artifacts excavated from York, spanning layers of human history, from prehistory to the medieval era.

Residents marvelled at the animal bones, including jawbones of sheep, cow, and boar, and pieces of pottery from Roman and medieval York.

Residents attempted to identify the animals from the bones, with the boar’s jaw, complete with a tusk, capturing everyone’s imagination. The pottery pieces also sparked lively debates as participants guessed their historical origins.

Tanya Spence, activities coordinator at Mandale House Care Home, said: “We had a fantastic voyage of discovery this morning. Residents and staff were fascinated to be able to hold the different fossils.

“The most popular fossil, which tickled everyone’s funny bones, were the coprolites.  They just look like little pebbles but everyone laughed out loud when they discovered they were fossilised human poo.

“We really try to bring different activities to residents, things they may never have seen or experienced before. Having the fossil box from Jorvik was a rare treat as it engaged not just residents but the staff team too.

“I have no doubt the residents will be telling their families about the artifacts they got the chance to hold today.

“The activity was so good the residents want to experience what an archaeology dig is like so we’ll be seeing what we can find on Digging for Britain.”

Resident Marylin Stephenson, 83, said: “What a fascinating morning. I’ve never seen or been able to hold ancient fossils. If someone had told me when I got up that I would be holding fossilised poo today I would never have believed them.”

Philip Thornton, 69, added: “Looking at the fossils was engrossing. I’ve never seen anything like it. To think some of them are hundreds, if not thousands of years old was amazing.”

Elizabeth Jackson, 71, added: “My son lives in York and goes to Jorvik. He says it’s really interesting.”

The archaeology box was arranged by Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator from Hazelgrove Court Care Home, in Saltburn, part of the Hill Care Group, which also operates Mandale House Care Home.

Sharon had a virtual consultation with a York Archaeology expert, who explained about the artifacts, before she brought them to the care home. She’ll now be arranging similar archaeological sessions at other care homes across the Tees Valley.

Tanya added: “We can’t thank Sharon and the Jorvik team enough for letting us take a trip through York’s history.”