The excavation simulation training programme has an experiential character and gives participants the opportunity to learn about the scientific process of excavation, documentation and management of archaeological finds and to understand how archaeologists gradually reconstruct the past based on the finds and their contexts.
The basic principle underlying the activity is learning by doing, learning through the senses based on tactile activities, promoting creativity and self-activity combined with intellectual processing of content. These are possibilities of holistic processing with the mind, senses and emotions, as the extended learning processes applied in excavation simulation include, among other things, the concept of fun and enjoyment.
The excavation simulation programme has a certain flexibility in terms of structure and content, so that it can be adapted to the capabilities and specific characteristics of each target age group.

The excavation simulation program is structured in 3 stages:

1)Presentation of slides and discussion about the archaeological profession. What do archaeologist do, how do they do it and why? We also watch video presentations about Minoan civilization and discuss about Minoan culture.

2)We go to the excavation site, where participants learn how to dig, sift the soil and clean the finds.

3)When the excavation is complete, we return to the workshop area, where the participants make a small clay pot, which they take away as a souvenir. We also provide to the children a small archaeologist’s certificate.