History enthusiasts from across the region descended on Mellor for the 2002 Open Days, eager to learn about the lives of their ancestors and examine the latest treasures unearthed by the archaeologists and volunteers during this year's digging season. With over 1,600 people passing though the gates of the Old Vicarage during the two day event, held on the 7th and 8th of September, all previous attendance records were shattered.

Visitors were treated to guided tours of the site that enabled them to see archeologists at work whilst they learnt about the history of the site and the significance of the many different features and finds revealed during five years of archaeological investigation.

A major attraction this year was the Iron Age roundhouse reconstructed by students from the Ridge Danyers College, Marple, using money from their part in an European Union project. Visitors were able to go inside and gain an insight into just how hard life must have in comparison to the present day. A favourite feature, of the children in particular, was the opportunity to try their hand at metal detecting on a purpose built demonstration area.

A Iron Age pot, the most significant find over the last year, was on display with many other fascinating new items in the Parish Centre. The pot, which has been painstakingly reconstructed from 120 separate pieces, could also be viewed via a rotating computer simulation. A computer model of the hilltop was also on show, demonstrating the layers of history that have so far been unveiled. 

Just two weeks before the Open Days another exciting find was discovered. This was an Iron Age flint tool around 7 cm long, possibly a Neolithic axe head, which is thought to date back to around 2000 BC. Other Mesolithic flints, dating back to 3000 and 8000 BC, have also been found on the site, showing that hunter-gatherers camped there during those times. About 75 flints have been found that came from the Wolds area of Yorkshire or Lincolnshire - giving evidence of trading taking place between the two areas.

This year's excavations revealed the probable outline of part of a large Iron Age roundhouse and numerous post holes in a 10 metre square in the garden of the Old Vicarage. An excavation near the gate, to investigate an anomaly shown by geophysical surveying, revealed one side of a ditch cut into the rock. Work next year will continue digging to find the depth and width of the ditch. Roman (but no Iron Age) pottery was found, which may mean that this was part of the ditch dug by the Romans during their occupation of the hilltop, reducing the size of the hill fort.