Location: King John’s Palace Excavation in Sherwood Forest
Price: £75 per person per day, or a full week (Monday-Friday) for £300
2025 dates: April 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th (Saturday), 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th
*Please note accommodation is not provided*
Is someone you know celebrating a birthday, retirement, or other event? Or do you want to buy a Christmas present for someone special?
Have you, or someone you know, always wanted to have a go at archaeology? Have you/they always wanted to experience the excitement and thrill of digging up artefacts from the past, and connecting with the events and people of times long gone? Well now you/they can, under the supervision of Archaeologists from Mercian Archaeological Services CIC.
Come and excavate at the site of the legendary King John’s Palace, once the Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest.
The Palace was visited by all eight kings from Henry II to Richard II, with King John possibly holding parliament there in the early 13th century and Edward I holding Parliament there in 1290.
This project forms part of a long running research project designed to understand the extent of the medieval palace, and surrounding area.
Itinerary:
The day commences at 9:30am, with Welcome, introductions, and paperwork.
After the introduction you will be taken on a site tour of King John’s Palace, and learn all about the history, site and landscape, as well as all about Sherwood Forest and the Kings who stayed here.
This is followed by a finds induction; learn all about archaeological artefacts, handle finds from all periods including flint tools, coins. Metalwork, glass and ceramics. Learn how to identify and collect artefacts as you uncover them when you dig, and our process for collecting and retaining them.
After this you will have chance to excavate on a real archaeological excavation for the rest of the day, finishing between 16:30 and 17:00, and contributing to a long-term research project in the heart of the Forest.
If you book multiple days or a full week you will dig on all subsequent days without undertaking the introductions, inductions, and tours again (unless you want to).
If you are booking for a friend or family member please tell us their name on the booking form; all gift bookings will either receive a ‘birthday card’, ‘Christmas card’, or other card reflecting the event that it has been bought for – please email us at info@mercian-as.co.uk to discuss this, and/or if you wish to keep the booking secret until a specific date.
For more details, see www.mercian-as.co.uk/intro_days.html
