The ARC Museums

In 1990 York Archaeological Trust set up the Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) to complement its existing York attraction, JORVIK. The concept behind the ARC was very unusual a working archaeological unit that would throw open its doors to the public but it proved an enormous success. Over the past decade thousands of people have visited the centre, and have been able to discover for themselves what life was like in the city 1,000 years ago.

A visit to the ARC will turn you and your family or group into archaeological detectives. Get your hands on real history and find out how archaeologists use clues to piece together York's past. You'll be amazed what you can find by digging in the dirt!

The centre reveals how much archaeology contributes to the discovery and understanding of history, by enabling visitors to try a variety of techniques for themselves and form their own conclusions about what life was like here in the past.

The ARC Sensory Garden is a new hands-on exhibition area that explores the development of architecture in York through sound bites and architectural fragments, which visitors are free to handle. The plants in the garden also tell a story. Discover the many uses of plants, from medicine to attracting sweethearts or warding off the plague!

The ARC is the perfect place to visit if you are looking for an unusual way to discover the history of York. Also a working archaeology unit, the centre provides a fascinating insight into the lives of some of the city's most remarkable past residents; it even gives visitors the opportunity to handle artefacts which are 1,000 or even 2,000 years old! .