We Dig the Castle

Location: Nottingham, NTT, GB

Season: July 16, 2018 to August 17, 2018

Application Deadline: August 13, 2018

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://wedigthecastle.weebly.com

Program Type:
Field school

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
A partnership between Historic England, Trent & Peak Archaeology and Nottingham City Council.

Project Director:
Drs David Knight and Gareth Davies, Trent & Peak Archaeology and University of Nottingham

Project Description:

We Dig the Castle: Nottingham Castle’s annual training excavation

Nottingham Castle, Nottingham, England

Season: July 16, 2018 to August 17, 2018 (weekdays)

Affiliation: Historic England, Trent & Peak Archaeology, Nottingham City Council

Notes: We Dig the Castle returns with a brand new training programme for 2018, and expands to include not only Nottingham Castle’s Outer Bailey but also the castle gatehouse, the course of the outer ditch and the historic Brewhouse Yard area (site of the castle’s medieval watermills). Training is comprised of a changing daily programme of induction, skills tutorials, task-based workshops, and fieldwork and includes principles of excavation; survey and laser scanning; excavation and test-pitting techniques; site recording; auguring; historic building recording; finds identification; post-excavation; finds and environmental processing and digitisation. It takes place in a supportive, small group, environment and is carefully designed to support progression through, and documentation via, the Archaeology Skills Passport. The Nottingham Castle site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and yet many areas – those to be investigated in We Dig the Castle – remain comparatively unexplored.

Booking opens in early March 2018.

Period(s) of Occupation: Medieval, post-medieval, modern

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 day (taster day)

Minimum Age: 14 (ages 14-16 must attend with an adult)

Experience Required: We welcome trainees with existing fieldwork or theoretical experience as well as those who are newer to archaeology.

Room and Board Arrangements:
Nottingham Castle is situated in the centre of Nottingham, with a number of hostels, bed and breakfasts and hotels situated within walking distance.  Cost: Standard: 1 day taster £50; 2 day taster £100; 1 week training place £240; 2 week training place £420 Concessions: 1 day taster £40; 2 day taster £80; 1 week training place £220; 2 week training place £380 Concessions available to ages 14-17, students, return trainees, and former volunteers with Trent & Peak Archaeology