Ask an Archaeologist at Banshee Reeks: An October 24 Outing in Leesburg

Cover: “Spring House Pond, Banshee Reeks,” January 6, 2008. Photo by Ken (kcdsTM), Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Archival preserve scenery, not the event or Annex building. Photographer-created HDR image; no additional edits.

A local-history outing can start with a simple question: how do we know what an old object tells us? Loudoun’s upcoming archaeology event offers a chance to ask the people who study that evidence.

The details to save

According to Loudoun County’s event announcement, Ask an Archaeologist takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Annex building at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg. An introductory presentation starts at 11 a.m.

Expect objects from the county’s collection, children’s activities and conversations with regional archaeologists. The county encourages overflow parking and suggests a picnic or trail visit if weather permits.

Make the conversation the main attraction

Try asking how an object’s surroundings change its interpretation, what evidence helps date it, or how researchers distinguish a likely explanation from a certainty. For a child, a simpler starting point might be: what clues would you look for first?

Those questions can turn a display into a discussion about how knowledge is built. They also give you something to talk about afterward without needing a long reading list before you arrive.

What to check before leaving

The announcement does not specify an admission charge or registration requirement. Confirm those details with the organizer rather than assuming the event is free or reservation-free. It also does not advertise a public excavation or personal-artifact appraisal service.

If you combine the event with time outdoors, decide beforehand how much walking suits your group. Treat the presentation and any trail outing as separate parts of the day, so weather or energy levels do not force an all-or-nothing plan.

Five quick questions

When is it?

October 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Where should I go?

The preserve’s Annex building at the address above.

When is the presentation?

11 a.m.

Are children included?

Yes; the county lists children’s activities.

Do I need to register?

The announcement does not say. Check with the organizer before your visit.

Source checked October 17, 2026. This guide does not promise admission terms that the organizer has not published.

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