Location: Bainbridge, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire
Price: £450 per person, or £350 per student (in full time education, NUS card holder or international equivalent*)
2025 dates: Week 1: 8th – 12th September / Week 2: 15th – 19th September
*Please note accommodation is not provided*
Join Mercian Archaeological Services CIC in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales for this week-long training excavation, which focuses on the teaching of archaeological excavation methods, tailored towards enabling attendees to fulfil requirements of the Archaeological Skills Passport.
The beautiful village of Bainbridge was formerly the administrative centre of the medieval Forest of Wensleydale, and the magnificent Bolton Castle near Leyburn dominates the valley to the east. A Roman fort looms large over the village on the eastern side, and the area is famous not only for its beautiful landscape, but also its world famous cheese, and as the backdrop to the Television series ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.
The site of the excavation is overlooked by a Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Slight Univallate Hillfort. This fort occupies the high ground at the top of a steep slope on the southern side of the site. Excavations will focus on the possible medieval manorial complex to the north of this fort, which has been identified from earthworks and recently discovered pottery.
Archaeological Training Excavation:
This course is suitable for all levels from beginner to experienced digger.
This training course focuses on the skills of archaeological excavation, including many Core Skills listed in the Archaeological Skills Passport:
Handtools (Trowel etc), Handtools (Spade, Mattock etc), Site Formation Processes, Stratigraphic Excavation, Context Sheet Recording, Site Photography, Dumpy Level and Staff, Archaeological Planning and Section Drawing, Site Safety.
This training course focuses on excavation and recording skills but there will also be a chance to undertake a number of techniques that make up the Secondary Skills of the Archaeology Skills Passport, including finds processing.
All techniques are taught and experienced throughout the week, with a mixture of classroom sessions and hands on training.
- Field days include lunch (sandwiches) provided by caterers which will be eaten in our welfare area in the field.
- There will also be an evening excursion, offering a tour around Brough Roman Fort, Bainbridge.
- On-site toilet facilities are provided
More details: www.mercian-as.co.uk/bainbridgetrainingdig.html
