The West Suffolk Prehistoric Landscape Project

Location: Bury Road, Bury Saint Edmunds, UK

Season: July 15, 2025 to August 17, 2025

Session Dates:
Week 1: 15th July – 20th July
Week 2: 22th July – 27th July
Week 3: 29th July – 3rd August
Week 4: 5th August – 10th August
Week 5: 12th August – 17th August

Application Deadline: July 19, 2024

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://pasttopresent.org/field-school-prehistoric-suffolk/?v=79cba1185463

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Past to Present Archaeology

Project Director:
Hazel Taylor

Project Description:

The West Suffolk Prehistoric Landscape Project is Past to Present Archaeology’s latest research initiative, focusing on uncovering the lives of Bronze Age communities in Western Suffolk, United Kingdom. Currently, little is known about Bronze Age migration and settlement in this region, and our project seeks to answer key questions about how these communities lived, farmed, produced tools, and honoured their dead.

Over the past two years, we have been excavating a significant ring ditch at one of our sites to understand its nature, extent, and function. Supported by the local community and crowdfunded contributions, the project has made promising discoveries, including multiple pits and postholes within the targeted ring ditch. With an Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) date of 1300 BC, the ring ditch aligns with the Middle Bronze Age, offering insights into ceremonial and daily practices of the period. We invite participants to join us in excavating and studying this extensive archaeological site, where each discovery helps piece together a richer understanding of prehistoric Suffolk.

For those unable to participate directly, we welcome support through our crowdfunding campaign, with all donations reinvested into the project to cover excavation costs, processing results, and maintaining the archives.

 

Period(s) of Occupation: The site’s occupation spans from the Late Mesolithic through to the Middle Bronze Age, offering an extensive sequence of layers that capture cultural and technological shifts over thousands of years. The primary focus is on a Middle Bronze Age ring ditch, dated to approximately 1300 BC using OSL dating, placing it within a period of significant changes in settlement and burial practices.

Excavations have yielded a variety of artefacts, including hundreds of lithic tools, a small pottery assemblage, and evidence of occupation features like pits and postholes. Two cremations were also discovered within the ring ditch, with one currently under analysis and the other preserved for future study. These findings, combined with the stratified layers of artefacts, provide a unique opportunity to understand how early communities in Suffolk organised their lives, interacted with their landscape, and commemorated their dead.

Notes:
Our 1-week experience is offered at £700 per person for adults and £550 per person for students. (Student bookings must be made through a valid university email address).

If you’re unable to join us for a full week, we offer flexible day options and weekend experiences that provide a taste of life on an archaeological dig. These shorter packages are perfect for those who want to experience hands-on excavation without a long-term commitment.

Single-Day Experience: Participate in a full day of archaeological fieldwork on any day from Tuesday to Sunday between 15th July and 17th August. Pricing: Adults: £150 per day Students: £120 per day (Student bookings must be made through a valid university email address)

2 Day Experience or Weekend Experience: Choose between a 2-day experience or a weekend experience (Saturday and Sunday) to gain insight into archaeological fieldwork and learn fundamental excavation techniques. Weekend bookings are available for any Saturday and Sunday from 20th July to 17th August. Pricing: Adults: £280 Students: £210 (Student bookings must be made through a valid university email address)

Project Size: 50+ participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 week

Minimum Age: 16

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Participants are welcome to bring a packed lunch, with a microwave available for those who wish to heat their food. Throughout the day, we provide complimentary tea, coffee, biscuits, and water to keep you refreshed.

For added convenience, a pre-bookable lunch option will be available next spring at an additional charge, allowing you to enjoy a delicious meal prepared on-site.

Campsite Facilities

Our campsite is equipped with essentials, including toilets, a shower, cooking facilities, and a fridge for storing your food. While there is no running water on-site, we ensure a comfortable setup for your stay, so please plan accordingly.

Academic Credit:
We will sign Archaeological Skills Passports