(Saveock Water Archaeology)
What qualities do you look for in a digger?
The most important quality we look for is enthusiasm and a love of all things in the past.
What items of equipment would you say are essential for a novice to bring along themselves?
At Saveock we provide all the equipment you will need including, hats, gloves, sun block and water stations for hot days (which we actually do get in Cornwall!). All you need to bring is a rain coat (it is surprising how many university students come for a two week dig without one!) good shoes and flat soled sandals for working on the clay floors.
What things should a novice digger say to the site supervisor when first arriving at the dig?
They should let the supervisor know if they have any health problems such as a bad back for instance so we can see that there is someone next to them that can empty their buckets for them.
What things shouldn’t a novice digger say to the site supervisor when first arriving at the dig?
I don’t need to be taught anything because I know everything about digging! No matter how many years someone has dug on sites before, every site is different and there is always something to learn for everybody.
And finally: what has been your weirdest/most intriguing/favourite find?
At Saveock we don’t have a problem finding weird and intriguing finds as they are all over the site. Just to mention one, our pagan votive pits full of swan feathers and unhatched eggs.
