St Mary's Abbey Precinct
Training Excavation 2005
| PLEASE NOTE: THE TRAINING EXCAVATION IS NOW OVER FOR THE YEAR! but please continue to visit for news of further training events. |
||||||||
| Following the success of the St
Leonard's training excavation, York Archaeological Trust will be running
a new training excavation at St Mary's Abbey, York. This will take place
in summer 2005 between the 20th June and the 9th September. A major aim of the project is to provide fieldwork training for all who are interested in archaeology. Moreover, this work is taking place on an important 'urban' excavation, a type of site not generally used for training purposes. The excavation is also carrying out important research that would not be possible otherwise (see about the site). |
||||||||
|
No previous experience of archaeological fieldwork is necessary. The training is designed to teach beginners the main excavation techniques, but the teaching can be modified to suit a range of experience and all abilities. The trenches are reasonably accessible and have been designed to be as safe as possible. The training is mostly hands-on (carrying out the tasks that would normally be done by the YAT excavation and finds staff), with lectures, tours and visits to provide a background to this work. Excavation trainees will follow the Trust's Single Context recording system, which requires involvement in the entire excavation process – recording in written and drawn form, digging and finds work. The aim is for trainees to understand not only how to excavate but also why each task is carried out. This holistic approach is believed to make the training each person receives particularly effective. The training packages are intended to be progressive. You can take a
short Taster course and then obtain a discount on a longer course, or
you can take a longer course and perhaps even take a placement the following
year. |
||||||||
| There are three types of hands-on experience available: | ||||||||
|
1. Tasters (1-2 days) cater for people who would like to try a little excavation work before deciding whether to get more deeply involved. The basic digging and finds tasks that are carried out during an archaeological excavation will be taught. Be warned – once you have caught the excavation bug, it will be difficult to stay away from excavations in future! |
||||||||
| 2. Longer courses (1 week or longer) are for those of you who already know that archaeological fieldwork is for you. The aim is to give each participant a thorough understanding of how and why the various techniques and procedures are carried out. You will participate in the full range of daily fieldwork tasks, working alongside YAT's excavation staff. To achieve competence in excavation methods and techniques, a 2-week course is recommended. | ||||||||
| 3. Placements are on offer to experienced archaeology undergraduates and to trainees who have been at another York Archaeological Trust training excavation for at least two weeks (preferably four weeks), subject to availability. Places will be offered at the discretion of the project manager. | ||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
There will be various lectures, visits and talks, depending on the package
chosen. Free admission to JORVIK and the ARC is available to all trainees.
There is also a lively social element, which is strictly optional! |
||||||||
|
If you still have queries about the dig after reading the details and
the frequently asked questions page, please contact:
A web discussion forum which was set up during the St Leonard's training excavation is still running. It is a good way to get an idea of the experience and activities people have enjoyed on a previous YAT training excavation. If you would would like to join in, click on the Discussion Forum button on the menu bar. |