Volunteering on an archaeological dig

One of my interests includes archaeology and I was delighted to secure a place as a volunteer with DigVentures last summer on both a roman and a medieval dig in Sedgefield and Bishop Middleham, County Durham, UK.

I thought I would share a day in the life of being on an archaeological dig as a volunteer.

On day one, you arrive on-site at around 9.00 am-9.30 am to meet everyone. The volunteers travel from all over the country and some from abroad. You need to allow time to find the location as it can be quite remote in the country where a lot of archaeological digs do happen. There are signposts directing you right to the site which helps a lot.

On my first dig, I booked a hotel pretty close to the site but I still had to cross a couple of fields with livestock that looked rather placid and used to people so it's very important that you are not fearful of farm animals being around you as it is likely they are going to appear somewhere along with a dig in a country area. I must add that the farmer was aware of this and had given permission in advance to be on his property as without his permission the dig cannot go ahead.

On your first day there, you complete a site induction with several forms to fill in and a site attendance sheet. You are informed about the dig and what to expect and the history of the location and very importantly, the health and safety associated with the site, the do's and don'ts on site. There is an area for on and off-site, and you must use the correct area for your own personal safety. You need to be careful not to walk on any dugout areas and ruin the archaeological works.

You have to state at this point if you are happy with your photo being used online because you are photographed for the records with your permission and any photos taken during the dig might be used for publicity and advertising. If you have completed any training courses associated with archaeology this is mentioned on your online profile. It is important that you are listening during the induction as visitors pass by the site and its good to be able to answer their questions if you can otherwise the archaeologists are at hand to help.

Work starts around 10 am. You are sorted into groups on a location and that's your spot. You collect your tools which consist of a bucket, hand shovel, trowel, and kneeling pad. You are previously informed by email what to bring with you including work gloves, hat, sun lotion, sunglasses, rainwear (light pull-ups and jacket), snacks, packed lunch and water, and your own cup.

There is additional water and sun lotion on-site. All personal items are left in a tent or a shed depending on the site. There are portable toilets nearby and these are perfectly satisfactory.

The archaeologists show you the correct way to dig in order not to damage any potential find. Clay is removed manually with the shovel, and buckets carried to a nearby wheel-barrow. This is emptied at regular intervals. You are advised not to fill the bucket to the top unless you are able to carry it yourself and not hurt your back.

A digger has been used previously to take off the top layer of grass. Layers are manually dugout and this is the reason why it can take a while to get to any finds but in some cases, people have had finds earlier.

Finds including pieces of pottery, jewellery or tools are kept in a finds tray. These are carefully washed with a toothbrush and water and left to dry. Once you find something of significance you call on one of the archaeologists to view the area. Sometimes it might be just a stone but other times it could be a very significant find. Window frames have been found from old dwellings houses. Photos are taken for the records. Levels are marked and tagged and photographed. This is to show where the item was found and at what level. See photos below for an example of this. The reference on the tag indicates the soil level items were found.

The lunch break is for one hour. During that time, you can do whatever you want and leave the site if you wish. Generally, people chat and eat their packed lunch. Also, it’s not out of the ordinary to take photos that are posted to Twitter and Facebook. I have been working in the sunshine where it was as warm as 28 degrees and I have also been out in the rain.

Work carries on unless the weather is too bad to work and in this case, the work is cancelled for that day. You are notified early in the morning by text if the works are cancelled for that day due to the weather conditions.

Work finishes up around 4.30 pm. There is a discussion at the end of the day to recap on the work completed and the site is photographed for the records. Some people wait on for a cup of tea and maybe more photos. There is no alcohol involved on a dig. Generally, you are tired as you have been doing manual work all day, especially if you are office-based and not used to it. All you do want to do is go home have a bath and rest for the next day.

People were exceedingly kind and I often got lifts home because people realise you are tired. I was brought sightseeing by Stephen, one of the local residents who has participated for many years in archaeological digs in the Durham areas. This was my first time in Durham, so it was lovely to get a guided tour of the beautiful city and surrounding areas.

Please bear in mind, if you are thinking of going on a dig yourself, its no place for acrylic nails, hair extensions, make-up, and a fashion parade. It’s very basic so you need to be a bit tough. Some people only last till lunchtime because their expectations are different from reality and others embrace the nature of being outdoors experiencing a roman road that history walked on. For me, it was a wonderful experience, and thank you Digventures for the opportunity.