The Ultimate Archaeology Gift List

Here it comes again: the holidays are here and you’ve got to start wracking your brains for that perfect gift to satisfy the archaeology-lover in your life. But not to worry! For everyone from the prehistorians to the medievalists, we’ve put together the ultimate archaeology gift list to make your life just that bit easier.

Buckle up, here are some of the coolest archaeological curiosities the internet has to offer. Santa, are you listening?

1. For the stocking above the fire

Source // Bakerlogy, Etsy

Egyptian Hieroglyphs Cookie Cutter Set (£38.12) Spice up Santa’s cookies this holiday with these Hieroglyphic cookie cutters. Etsy seller Bakerlogy has our heart after looking through their amazing collection of Egyptology-themed cookie cutters. When archaeology meets something sweet like this you can’t go wrong.

2. For the t-shirt wearer

DigVentures Archaeology Team T-shirts (£18) If you want to not only get a gift that supports great archaeology and helps you look good doing it, a DigVentures t-shirt is a must have. Not only is it a great way to broadcast a love of archaeology to the world, but every single penny goes straight into conducting research: from fieldwork, to analysis, to sharing it all with you here. Plus, there’s so many awesome colours and slogans on offer!

3. For the ancient history fan

Source // Dumb Cuneiform

Dumb Cuneiform (£16) Got something to say? Say it Cuneiform. This is perfect for the archaeology-lover who uses Twitter more than a trowel. Send your 140-character message to the guys at Dumb Cuneiform and they will carefully transcribe your most ephemeral communications onto a clay tablet that’ll endure forever.

4. For the dig-enthusiast

Dig Experience Gift Certificate (£190+) Know somebody who dreams of trying out archaeology? Well, we’ve got plenty to go around. Secure someone a spot on one of our excavations in 2023 with a gift certificate. Be it a day, two days, even two weeks, they’ll get to be part of a fully immersive, action-packed experience with training from some of the best professional archaeologists around. Nothing is better than uncovering genuine archaeology while surrounded by like-minded people.

5. For the fashion-forward

Source // Historic Royal Palaces

Anne Boleyn initial necklace(£65) In 2021 celebrity model Bella Hadid was spotted walking the streets sporting her very own Anne Boleyn necklace. And it got us thinking, Tudor jewellery deserves a come back! So, if you fancy rocking your very own historically inspired jewellery, we’ve tracked down this beautiful piece from the Historic Royal Palaces’ shop. Customise the iconic necklace and feel like a queen yourself, although let’s hope you have a better time of it than poor Anne…

6. For the studious soul

Source // SelinaJayneDesigns, Etsy

Selina-Jayne Archaeologist Limited Edition Designer Pencil Case (£13.75) Looking for the perfect place to store your sharpies this field season? Do it in style with this archaeology-themed pencil case from SelinaJayneDesigns on Etsy! They have a whole heap of themed goodies, from tote bags to mugs, so you can encorporate a bit of archaeology into all aspects of life.

7. For the crafty folk

Source // Little Conkers, Etsy

Crochet Amphora Pattern (£7.72) A great novelty gift for those creative souls has to be this cute little crochet pattern from LittleConkers. If you loved hearing about our recent dig in East Yorkshire, or you’re just a big fan of the Romans, then get this on your list for Santa. With info on how to crochet three different kinds of Greek and Roman amphorae this really would be a gift that keeps on giving.

8. For the junior archaeologist

DigVentures Family Subscription (£5 per month or £55 per year) Want to go even further? Help us welcome someone new into the DigVentures family as a subscriber so they can get even closer to the work we do. With a stack of amazing perks, like priority booking on digs and access to exclusive events, it’s the place to be to cultivate your love for anything archaeological. We couldn’t do it without you guys, and this way we can continue to make loads of great research happen TOGETHER!

9. For the bookworm

The Dig, John Preston (£8.99) If you enjoyed Netflix’s adaption of this charming story, we can guarantee you’ll love the book too! Set on a riverside farm in Suffolk, this story draws inspiration from the real-life excavation of Sutton Hoo. While the rest of the country prepared for war, a team worked tirelessly to uncover some of the best archaeology the UK has ever seen. It’s a guaranteed page-turner for the holidays, and a great excuse to watch the film all over again!

 10. For a laugh

Source // Exploding Kittens

Poetry for Neanderthals (£19.99) Yes, yes, we know the old grunting Neanderthal stereotype is way off the mark, and that any serious archaeology-lover will no doubt grunt angrily that Neanderthals were Actually Very Smart. But if you let your serious side go, this game looks like fun for all the family!

11. For the student

DigVentures Digital Subscription (£5 per month or £55 per year) Want to learn more about archaeology? Our Digital Subscriptions give you anytime access to all of our online archaeology courses, including ultimate guide to fieldwork – How To Do Archaeology. On top of that, you get Priority Booking to all of our online events, and live updates from our digs across Britain.

12. For the gamer

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures(£15.49 on Steam) If you’ve ever sat through a Christmas showing of Indiana Jones on the telly and thought “I wish that was me”, we’ve got a solution (sort of). While we can’t use magic to turn you into Indiana, we can recommend this fun video game that lets you play through the best bits of the original films, injected with some of that classic LEGO humour. A great one to play with friends or family this holiday!

13. For the builder

Colosseum LEGO set (£474.99) A massive part of archaeology is deconstructing the past, but what if you could literally construct it too? This epic LEGO set lets you do just that. Bring one of the wonders of the world into your own living room and explore archaeology in a whole new way. Honestly, if you build this just know you’ll be making some LEGO fans here at DigVentures very jealous.