It was a hands-on history lesson for school children as they tried to unearth part of Temple Newsam House's past.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Cross Gates Today.The pupils from Victoria Primary School were working on an archaeological excavation in the grounds of the mansion.
The team from Year Six were trying to uncover part of a long-vanished Victorian walled garden.
Gardeners and landscape architects, including the famous Capability Brown, have worked on the park and each has left his mark.
The Victoria Primary children were followed by youngsters from Scholes (Elmet) Primary School, Scholes, who were visiting today and tomorrow.
The groups were also studying historic maps and plans of the site and learning modern gardening skills in the walled garden.
The project was organised by the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service in partnership with Leeds Parks and Countryside.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for combining archaeological fieldwork with good educational practice," said Graham Hebblethwaite, chief officer of West Yorkshire Joint Services.
