Oakwell Country Park at Birstall is hosting a project with the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service to give children a rare opportunity to take part in their own archaeological excavation.

The advisory service, in partnership with Kirklees Museums and Galleries and Kirklees Countryside, is to provide pupils with experience of the world of archaeology from Tuesday, May 22, until Thursday.

The archaeology service will be receiving further support from Trinity and All Saints College, Horsforth and South Leeds Archaeology Group.

Graham Hebblethwaite, chief officer of West Yorkshire Joint Services, said: "Working in partnership with other education providers in West Yorkshire helps spread best practice throughout the heritage sector.

"It will ensure that children with a wide range of abilities will have a stimulating and exciting day when they visit the project.

Councillor Malcolm Slater, chairman of the archives, archaeology and trading standards committee, said: "Practical work forms a large part of this project and provides the opportunity of stimulating learning without the use of books.

"it gives children a hands-on experience of the past and the knowledge that even small fragments of broken pot have a story to tell."

Although Oakwell Country Park is noted for its late Tudor mansion, the site has been occupied since medieval times.

Similar school excavation projects have revealed traces of what may be a medieval drain as well as many finds from later periods.