Bamburgh Research Project runs a summer field school at BamburghCastle in Northumberland, and another excavation at the nearby Bradford Kaims wetlands. Participants get to excavate on both sites, experiencing the very different styles of excavation and investigation that each site demands.
Bamburgh was the capital of Saxon Northumbria and has been continuously occupied for well over 3,000 years. It is one of the most impressive and important archaeological sites in North East England, with excellent preservation and over three metres of stratified deposits. This year the principle excavations will take place in the west ward of the castle in two trenches that are currently at c. 8th – 9th century and 9th – 10th century levels respectively.
The field school is open to all students and volunteers over the age of 14. Training is provided by professional field archaeologists in a variety of practical fieldwork techniques including excavation, drawing, photography, site recording, and post excavation analysis.
Evening lectures and site tours are provided in addition to the training in the trenches. There is also a healthy social life off site. Food is not included, but there are local supermarkets and food outlets within easy walking distance.
Minimum stay for students is one week, and costs cover camping, accommodation, and training.
EXCELLENT
A great excavation with lots going on. I found a load of different things, like a coin, some nails and a load of pottery.
The dig was excellent but the evenings were even better.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Would you recommend it? Yes
What is your top bit of advice? Ask, if you want to know. Take suncream and waterproofs. Get to the showers early.
LOVED IT
Bamburgh was my first training dig as a student, and I have since returned several times. Set in a remarkable fortress and doing research into one of the most important sites of one of the least studied periods of English history, it’s a very memorable place.
As with any dig, you should be ready to do physical work but you will also get the opportunity to develop your practical archaeological skills a great deal. I found the education programme worked well in communicating both the theory and the practice of excavation, and there is also a media team on site with whom people can get experience of documentary filming.
As well as the stunning location and the fantastic archaeology (deep level medieval stratigraphy, Early Medieval cemetery, Medieval fortifications etc etc) the project has a great atmosphere and you get so much more than just the digging. The community of staff and excavators is great fun and very friendly, and I’ve certainly not seen anyone have the type of experience described above.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Would you recommend it? Yes
What is your top bit of advice? Bring sun cream and beach stuff.
Come prepared for banter as well as digging!
INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT RESEARCH EXCAVATION
I’ve been involved with the BRP since 2001, when I joined the dig as a student. Like so many other people, this amazing site and the team who run it captured my heart and I’m now employed as a Research Associate at a major university working on the archaeology of the Bowl Hole.
Bamburgh is an archaeological site of regional, national and international significance and as such, this is a brilliant place to learn. The teaching staff are experienced professional archaeologists and are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and above all committed to sharing the thrill of exploring and understanding this unique site. With the wealth of archaeology at the site, everyone is pretty much guaranteed to find something exciting.
While the campsite is basic, it is perfectly adequate and the sense of fun and camaraderie easily makes up for the occasional cold shower.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Would you recommend it? Yes
What is your top bit of advice? Be prepared to meet life-long friends and have one of the best experiences of your life! Without the BRP I wouldn’t be where I am today.
OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED!!!
The BRP has a lot to offer anyone who has an interest in archaeology and wishes to learn about fieldwork and, furthermore, the finds process. The setting of the castle against the beach also gives it additional charm.The staff are approachable and willing to go out of their way to ensure that people get everything they want out of their experience. It is important, however, to speak out – if you want to do something, then, tell them! As with any experience undertaken, you can only get out of it what you also put in.
The different trenches provide a broad range of archaeology, where one is able to work with features, artefacts and skeletal remains and the work ranging from hard physical to that of microtools.
Aside from the archaeology, the project also organises things in the evenings – quizzes, film nights and pub night on a Friday, to name just a few examples. It also provides an opportunity to meet people from all over the world who have similar interests to you – and strong lasting friendships are often formed.
This coming season will be my fourth at Bamburgh and I am as adamant as I was the first time I came, that Bamburgh is not an experience to be missed!!!
RECOMMENDATIONS
Would you recommend it? Yes
What is your top bit of advice? Come prepared for sun and rain – but a good and fun educational time no matter what!
SO GREAT I CAN NO LONGER DIG IN MY OWN COUNTRY!
This summer will be my third season with the BRP and I highly recommend it! I have dug at a few sites at home in the U.S., but nothing compares to the complexity and beauty of Bamburgh. There is a lot of hard work, and some of it involves seemingly mindless labor…but that’s archaeology! This site is so large and complex, there’s certainly something for every archaeological interest. For first-time diggers, it’s especially exciting because the site is so rich in finds. It will not be 3 weeks of digging the same shell midden at Bamburgh!
The staff is great and more than willing to share their copious knowledge with their students. As one of the other reviewers said, though, do speak up! If you are looking for a training experience where you are spoon-fed knowledge, this isn’t for you. Bamburgh is best for people who are willing to be enthusiastically involved in their own learning process; people who are motivated and curious. Also, Bamburgh is all about learning by doing, so if you’re looking for classroom lectures, look elsewhere.
The staff are all incredibly passionate not only about the site, but about archaeology in general so if there’s anything you want to know, you only have to ask! Several members of staff have even organized trips and hikes to local spots of historical interest and given fascinating tours all on their spare time simply because we asked about it. Heck, they even drove! I learned incredibly amounts about the surrounding areas as well, which really helps put the site in context.
As for the campsite, it’s pretty decent. The area around is gorgeous, so it’s great for walks. The temperature of the showers can be odd, but they are proper stalls with full water pressure. The food isn’t gourmet, but it’s completely edible. There’s a barbecue night once a week, which is the best. You will have camp duty once or twice, which does mean preparing food for that particular day’s meals, but you DO NOT have to prepare your own food on a regular basis. Plus, nights on the campsite are every bit as good as the days, so don’t worry about being bored! You’ll make great friends here!
RECOMMENDATIONS
Would you recommend it? Yes
What is your top bit of advice? There’s loads to learn if you’re willing to take some initiative! Bring waterproofs and something warm and wooly for evenings!
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
I went to Bamburgh as a student volunteer for two years. I chose the site because it offered so much more than anything being run by my Uni and it was everything i hoped it would be and more. It was also great value for money, which meant that i could afford to go for the whole season on my second trip. It was a great experience for me because as well as excavating i got involved in the Media department as well, something i would not have been able to do anywhere else. The campsite is fine, its in beautiful surroundings and the facilities are pretty decent. The social life is fantastic – i guarantee you will come away with a new bunch of lifelong friends.
RECOMMENDATIONS
What is your top bit of advice? You will get what you put in. go with the attitude that you want to learn, work hard, make great friends and have a wonderful summer – whatever the weather
THE RAW POWER OF THE PAST
I had a great time at the Bamburgh Research Project, after three visits I would love to go back again. The site is amazing, with a very wide historic appeal and every effort is made to include training elements in the working day. On top of what you learn on site seminars are available to advance your basic knowledge of the methods of archaeology. There is much fun to be had off site as well, with quizes, barbeques and the legendary Bamburgh Pub Night…you haven’t lived till you’ve danced to Footloose at the Kareoke in The Salmon in Belford!! I made great friends, had a memorable summer…with kick ass archaeology thrown in!
RECOMMENDATIONS
Would you recommend it? Yes
What is your top bit of advice? Prepare to re-think your future, the past is indeed brought to life, for everyone!
…AND ALSO MEDIA
I joined the project in 2000, and I’ve seen it grow out of the aspirations of friends who wanted to make a difference to the development of British archaeology. These people work professionally on archaeological sites, and as such they are highly experienced in the practical aspects of the job. BRP has managed to garner the respect of archaeological peers and universities throughout Britain and Internationally and we have maintained our independence. There are areas we can improve on of course, but we are all working to deliver the best possible experience for everybody, and largely, as these reviews show, we achieve it. What Bamburgh has above all is a passion for the past, and a delight in finding out everything we can about the site. It is a place where innovation, enthusiasm and ability can develop and thrive. We aim to be inclusive of people regardless of background, creed or ability and it is a matter of great pride that some of our students have gone on to find archaeological employment in a variety of sectors. We also have a dedicated media department who film the entire project each year, creating a unique archaeological resource and social history of the project. Although we have a formal collaboration in this regard with York St John’s University, anyone can become involved in this aspect of the project also, and we are always seeking creative people who have an interest in helping us produce more diverse and interesting content for broadcast and the internet. Bamburgh and our project are often featured on television programmes
For more information on the project please visit our website
http://www.bamburghresearchproject.co.uk
or join our myspace page for informal updates.
What an excellent review. Pithy and accurate.
MB
RECOMMENDATIONS
Would you recommend it? Yes
What is your top bit of advice? Be pro-active, join in, there are some strong personalities but don’t let that put you off! As some of the other reviewers have said, learning at Bamburgh is generally by doing, so tell us what you want to do on site and be persistent as we have to make sure everybody gets a chance. If you have a problem or complaint please tell us right away and we will be receptive and do our best to sort it out. There are some realities of training excavations that are unavoidable however, such as the fact that the practical aspects of archaeology mean that physical work is part of the job, but the staff do not treat students and volunteers like ‘slave labour’,- I mean even if all you did was shovel all day (which is extremely unlikely) there are two generous teabreaks and a long lunch, and we generally run inside if it’s raining.