Photo: Julian Richards congratulates 11-year-old Joseph Thorne on his winning entry The Staeringa Saga. Photo: Anra Kennedy. © 24 Hour Museum.

With their tales of Norse myth, magic and adventure, two junior diggers have scooped the coveted title of Young Archaeologist of the Year 2003.

At a ceremony in York 11-year-old Joseph Thorne and Emma Silvey, 15, were congratulated by Julian Richards presenter of the BBC’s Blood of the Vikings and Meet the Ancestors.

Organised by the Young Archaeologists’ Club, the competition invited members aged between nine and 16 to write a story in the style of a Viking saga.

Emma from Middlesex, whose saga Gehod’s Son won top prize in the 13-16 category, told 24 Hour Museum Education Officer Anra Kennedy how she produced a prize-winning tale.

"I’ve always liked the Viking era. I find it really interesting and one of my favourite subjects at school is English, so writing a Viking saga combined two of my favourite things,"

Photo: it wasn't Blood of the Vikings, but Julian Richards' own effort at a saga, Snorri the Seasick, certainly kept the audience entertained. Photo: Anra Kennedy. © 24 Hour Museum.

Joseph Thorne from Cardiff won the nine to 12 category by using his knowledge of Viking myth to compose The Staeringa Saga, a dark tale about Loki, god of fire and trickery.

"I am very interested in Norse Mythology – it started when I was very little when I was given a book about it," said Joseph. "I don’t want to be an archaeologist when I grow up but I would like to be something in the history field."

The award ceremony took place at York Archaeological Resource Centre, where Julian Richards treated the gathered audience to his own effort at a saga, Snorri the Seasick.

"It’s been a great weekend for me meeting the kids and finding out how they’ve taken stories and ideas from the past and are making their own stories," he said.

Photo: Emma Silvey, 15 came first in the 13-16 category with her atmospheric tale of jealousy and honour, Gehod's Son. Photo: Anra Kennedy. © 24 Hour Museum.

"This gives them a way of understanding the past, of bringing it to life, which is something I’m very concerned about in the programmes that I make. It’s lovely to see kids using their imaginations in this way."

As part of their prize, the winners and their families were treated to a night at a plush York hotel guided tours of Jorvik Viking Centre, Yorkshire Museum and the Treasury House, as well as a visit to the city’s most haunted spots.

"There’s so much in York that brings the past alive," added Julian Richards. "It’s been tremendous fun. I’m sure the children will remember this and it will hopefully inspire them to keep using their imaginations and trying to understand the past."

The competition and prizes were supported by The National Trust, York Archaeological Trust and York Museums Trust.