About the training excavation...
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York Archaeological Trust has been running a training excavation at St Leonard's Hospital, York each summer since 2001. The final season will take place in 2004.
- A major aim of the project is to provide fieldwork training for all, not least untrained members of the public. Moreover, this work is taking place on an important 'urban' excavation, a type of site not normally accessible to the general public. The excavation is also carrying out important research that would not be possible otherwise (see about the site). Finally, the excavation is open to public visitors.
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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 main courses for 2004 are excavation and artefacts (finds treatment and study). 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 - context recording, 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 much more effective.
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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 (if we find a new site for 2005!)..
- Top-quality teaching will be provided by experienced York Archaeological Trust staff, catering for all levels of ability and interest.
- The trenches will be re-opened prior to the start of the excavation, so that Trainees will be working on archaeological deposits (such as the Roman fortress rampart in Trench 3) from Day 1.
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The training excavation will open to everyone aged 16 years or over, but there are also special activities for children.
There are three types of hands-on experience available:
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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!
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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.
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Placements are on offer to experienced archaeology undergraduates and to trainees who have been at St Leonards previously for at least two weeks (preferably four weeks), subject to availability.
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!
The excavation staff include Kurt Hunter-Mann (Project Manager), Neil Macnab (Site Manager), Toby Kendall (Assistant Site Manager), Ben Reeves and Katherine Bearcock. The artefacts course will be taught by York Archaeological Trust staff and external finds experts.
If you still have queries about the dig after reading the details and the frequently asked questions page, please contact:
Karen Bettsworth/Helen Dennis +44 (0)1904 663045, email stleonard@yorkarchaeology.co.uk, or fax +44 (0)1904 663024