EXCAVATION VOLUNTEER

We welcome all volunteers regardless of background!

 

If you have at least three weeks' excavation and recording experience, or an equivalent basic course in field archaeology from SHARP or elsewhere, you can book to take part as a volunteer archaeologist in one of a variety of roles. 

 

Please note that volunteers are allocated depending on the workforce needs of the site, which change regularly, though we will accommodate personal preference wherever possible. Volunteers are encouraged to excavate and record their own areas or features during their time with us. Full supervision on site is provided if you need your skills to be refreshed. 

 

If you however have no previous experience in archaeology, it is a requirement to enrol first in a Basic Excavation and Recording Techniques (BERT) course, after completion of which you are welcome to stay on as an excavation volunteer for the cost of facilities only. Or return as a volunteer another year. 

 

We understand that the physical aspects of archaeology does not always suit all, or that people have ongoing injuries or health concerns that make it difficult to excavate a whole week. With this in mind we now offer a non-excavation volunteer option with our various post-excavation teams, see here for more information. We are also open to people who would prefer to do a mixture of activities on a part-time basis, please indicate using the drop down box if you would be likely to want to do a mixture of activities on site. You do not need to have completed the BERT course, or have prior experience, to be a post-ex volunteer.

 

Please note: persons aged 15 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian accompanying. Ages 16 and 17 may attend unaccompanied with parental or guardian permission.

Week 1: 12/07/26 - 17/07/26 inclusive.

Week 2: 19/07/26 - 24/07/26 inclusive.

Week 3: 26/07/26 - 31/07/26 inclusive.*

Week 4: 02/07/26 - 07/08/26 inclusive.

 

*the Sunday of week 3 is our Festival of Archaeology so the timetable is slightly different this week. We offer a discount for bookings this week due to the changes. 

6 days

Volunteer rate for 6 days of excavation with lunch, use of facilities, and Tuesday evening lecture admission included - £180 (or £160 if booked before 1st April 2025 on our early bird offer)

 

There is a £30 discount availble for Week 3 bookings due to our Festival of Archaeology taking place on the Sunday. This will be appiled automatically when booking.

 

Onsite camping space and use of shower facilities for a week - £50

We ask that all those camping to arrive on the Saturday afternoon before the start of their booked week, and they can leave at any time the following Saturday, or on the Friday afternoon/evening after work if this works better for them.

 

All onsite meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and all evening entertainment for a week - £60

 

The volunteer only rate includes lunch onsite, drinks, and admission to our Tuesday night lecture (if you wish to attend), but does not include accommodation or breakfast/evening meals. If you wish to camp onsite during your stay, and/or eat breakfast and dinner onsite, please select these options when making your booking. 

On the Sunday of week 3 we hold our annual Festival of Archaeology, a day where we fundraise and provide more experiences and activities for those that attend. This has been a major part of SHARP since the start and as a charity it is one of the ways we interact with the general public.

 

We recognise however that volunteers that attend this week tend to be asked to assist with activities or the organisation of this event. While we try and ensure that volunteers are on a rotation basis so that everyone gets to do some digging or archaeological activities as part of the day, we can’t guarantee how much digging you will get in on the Sunday. We have therefore decided that week 3 will be offered at a discounted rate to account for this inconvenience.

 

For those that attend the Festival of Archaeology, the event provides opportunities for your CV and/or BAJR passports, as there are opportunities for improving your public engagement skills which are not always available in other weeks. There are lots of tasks suitable for all types of people, our public facing roles include dressing up as historical characters, demonstrating finds cleaning or archaeological activities, doing children’s activities such as excavating ancient poo or pot making, or working at our many fundraising stands. There are also activities like car parking for those not wanting to interact with the public.

 

If anyone is attending in week 2 and would like to extend their stay and assist with the archaeological festival we would be more than happy for you to extend you stay until Sunday evening at no extra charge.

Please note: persons aged 15 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian accompanying. Ages 16 and 17 may attend unaccompanied with parental or guardian permission.

SHARP offers financial support for excavation and our courses through the John Hensby Memorial Bursary. For more information and to apply, please visit The John Hensby Fund.

At SHARP we have always tried to cater for as many dietary needs as possible. However the limitations of cooking in a container cabin in a field, and the increasing numbers and types of allergies, means that while we do try, we can't always cater for all needs. Particularly for those people with severe and/or life-threatening allergies.

 

We currently cater for Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free and Dairy Free diets for those having lunch with us or camping on site.

 

For allergies other than these please contact SHARP in advance of making your booking to find out whether we can cater for your situation.

We endeavour to make the project as inclusive as possible for people with a variety of medical conditions. We also have a good history of working with people with learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Asperger's, and Dyspraxia. We ask as part of the booking process that you please make us aware of any medical conditions and how they impact you so that we can better accommodate you.

 

If you have medical needs that require charging of medical devices, please get in touch before making a booking. The camp site is off the grid, with power provided by a solar array. This works well in most situations, however, in poor weather we may not be able to guarantee you power to charge large devices at all times.