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