Bainbridge Archaeological Training Field School 2025, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, UK

Location: 16 Sycamore Hall, Bainbridge, Leyburn DL8 3HF, UK

Season: September 8, 2025 to December 19, 2025

Session Dates: Week 1: 8th - 12th, September 2025 Week 2: 15th - 19th, September 2025

Application Deadline: September 7, 2025

Deadline Type: Contact for Details

Website: https://mercian-as.co.uk/bainbridgetrainingdig.html

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Mercian Archaeological Services CIC

Project Director:
Andy Gaunt

Project Description:

Join Mercian Archaeological Services CIC in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales for this week-long training excavation, which focuses on the teaching of archaeological excavation methods.

As well as offering the very best in archaeological training and support, this training excavation is tailored towards enabling attendees to fulfil requirements of the Archaeological Skills Passport.

Archaeological Training Excavation:

This course is suitable for all levels from beginner to experienced digger.

This training course focuses on the skills of archaeological excavation. You will receive training and experience in many techniques of excavation, including many Core Skills listed in the Archaeological Skills Passport:

Handtools (Trowel etc), Handtools (Spade, Mattock etc), Site Formation Processes, Stratigraphic Excavation, Context Sheet Recording, Site Photography, Dumpy Level and Staff, Archaeological drawing, Artefact Recovery, Recording & Storage, Site Safety.

This training course focuses on excavation and recording skills but there will also be a chance to undertake a number of techniques that make up the Secondary Skills of the Archaeology Skills Passport including:

Finds Processing.

All techniques are taught and experienced throughout the week, a mixture of classroom sessions and hands on training from our Archaeological experts.

The beautiful village of Bainbridge was formerly the administrative centre of the medieval Forest of Wensleydale, and the magnificent Bolton Castle near Leyburn dominates the valley to the east. A Roman fort looms large over the village on the eastern side.

The site of the excavation is overlooked by a Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Slight Univallate Hillfort. This fort occupies the high ground at the top of a steep slope on the southern side of the site.

We will be concentrating our excavations on the possible medieval manorial complex to the north of this fort, which has been identified from earthworks and recently discovered pottery (see below).

The area is famous not only for its beautiful landscape, but also it world famous cheese, and as the backdrop to the Television series ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.

This course focuses on excavation, it is suitable for all levels from beginner to experienced digger.

For those wishing to develop their skills, for students and post-graduates seeking to fulfil the practical experience requirements of their courses… for those wishing to pursue a career in archaeology, or improve their knowledge to give them the edge at work… for those looking to acquire cross-transferable skills… for volunteer diggers wishing to raise their game, impress their friends, and increase their enjoyment of archaeology and heritage through a greater skill set and knowledge base…. through to people simply wishing to learn for the love of learning…

Everyone is welcome… no previous knowledge or experience is required…

You will receive training and experience in many techniques of excavation,
including many Core Skills listed in the Archaeological Skills Passport:

• Handtools (Trowel etc)
• Handtools (Spade, Mattock etc)
• Site Formation Processes
• Stratigraphic Excavation
• Context Sheet Recording
• Site Photography
• Dumpy Level and Staff
• Archaeological drawing
• Artefact Recovery, Recording & Storage
• Site Safety

This training course focuses on excavation and recording skills but there will also be a chance to undertake a number of techniques that make up the Secondary Skills of the Archaeology Skills Passport including:

• Finds Processing

As well as the above all school attendees will receive the following:

• All techniques are taught and experienced throughout the week, a mixture of theory sessions and hands on training from our Archaeological experts.
• Every attendee will be taught to excavate.
• Delegates will be taught archaeological drawing methods.
• Delegates will also receive training and experience in measuring and recording heights with a dumpy level.
• Topics covered in the classroom sessions will include site formation and processes, stratigraphic excavation, context sheets, drawing and photography, alongside a Pottery Identification Training seminar.
• Total Station training and surveying seminar and practical session.
• Lectures are accompanied by ‘hand-outs’. These will be made available to attendees to download via a file-share. The details for access are provided prior to the field school. The files can be downloaded and are for students to keep. Mercian aim to be an environmentally friendly company and this helps us to work towards reducing our environmental footprint.
• This course is suitable for people of all archaeological abilities from beginner wishing to take their first step, to experienced diggers wishing to take the next step, and from university students and post-graduates needing more experience, to retired people wanting to fulfil a life’s ambition… all are welcome and will be treated equally… the experience is tailored to the individual through hands on personal supervision.
• Field days include lunch (sandwiches) provided by caterers which will be eaten in our welfare area in the field.
• On-site toilet facilities are provided.
• All equipment is provided, although you are welcome to bring you own trowels etc (more details when you have booked).

Evening field visits:

• A tour around Brough Roman Fort, Bainbridge.

*Please note accommodation is not provided*

Period(s) of Occupation: Medieval (+all periods)

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 week

Minimum Age: 15

Experience Required: No Experience Required

Room and Board Arrangements:
Accommodation not provided