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Personal Dig Checklist

1 min read

When you are about to embark on a dig, it’s a good idea to double check you have everything you might need – below is a quick checklist with the essentials.

Travel and Money Preparation:

  • Travel tickets and insurance
  • Maps, directions and phone numbers
  • Appropriate jabs and medications

 

Packing for Projects – essentials

  • Functional shirt / long sleeved T-shirt and trousers (military or Cargo are best)
  • Well-treaded boots (steel toe-capped optional) — check with the project
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Hat or Bandana
  • Socks and underwear
  • A full set of clothes for evenings and days off (also useful when washing dig clothes!)
  • Towel
  • Mug for tea breaks
  • Torch and spare batteries
  • Small Penknife with scissors
  • Small sewing kit and  safety pins

 

 

Medical Kit and Toiletries

  • Sun block and after sun lotion
  • Hand-wash or wipes
  • Small First Aid Kit
  • Any essential medication you require (notify the project of any medical condition you may have in advance)
  • Insect repellent
  • Spare toilet roll

 

 

 

 

Equipment — check with project for any other requirements

  • WHS 4″ archaeologists’ trowel (or similar) – an essential!
  • Gloves or padded palm fingerless gloves
  • 5 metre hand tape
  • Kneeling mat or knee pads
  • Mechanical Pencil
  • Ruler
  • 2 x biro pens
  • Small notebook
  • Foldback clips
  • Large ziplock bags
  • Water bottle
  • Small rucksack or shoulder bag
  • Compass
  • Camera and spare memory card

Always check with the project for a full kit list.

 

Other Suggestions

  • A book, or Mp3 player or similar with headphones — for a bit of downtime
  • Sweets, biscuits or favourite spread like Marmite.
  • A swimming costume/trunks and flip flops

 

SURVIVAL GUIDE: COURTESY OF THE BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL JOBS RESOURCE