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Dirty Weekend: Archaeology Dig

Dirty Weekend: Archaeology Dig
  • Venue/Location:Potteric Carr Nature Reserve
  • Date: 1 Apr 23 - 2 Apr 23

Dirty Weekend: Archaeology Dig with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Always wanted to try archaeology? This ‘Dirty Weekend’ is your chance to dig with archaeologists from DigVentures and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as we begin to excavate a vast Iron Age and Romano-British settlement on the edge of Potteric Carr Nature Reserve.

Aerial imagery has recently revealed the eye-catching outlines of roundhouses, enclosures, field systems and ditches, at Loversall Carr on the edge of Potteric Carr Nature Reserve. These are all signs that on this spot once stood a vast ancient settlement, probably dating back to the Iron Age and Roman periods.

Who lived here? How long for? And what secrets about their lives might be waiting to be discovered just below the ground?

The remains of this intriguing ancient settlement have never been archaeologically investigated before, but from the surface it’s clear that this site has the potential to reveal previously unknown knowledge about life in Doncaster over 2,000 years ago.

Now, you can be part of the first ever archaeological dig at this site, joining the DigVentures and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as we begin a brand new investigation.

Over the course of this two day ‘Dirty Weekend, you’ll learn hands-on how to do archaeology, while helping to investigate a real-life ancient mystery at this never-before explored site. Together, we can begin to find out what was happening here more than two millennia ago…

Where: Loversall Carr, near Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, Doncaster

When: 1st – 2nd April 2023, 09:30 – 16:30

Group size: 25

Who can join: Anyone aged 18+. Each adult is welcome to bring accompanied children aged 12+, but you must book a place for them too.

Cost for local residents: Free (we have a limited number of free places funded by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust available for local residents with a DN1 – DN12 postcode which can be booked on a first-come-first-serve basis)

Cost for everyone else: £350 per person

Experience: Suitable for all levels. No previous experience required.

Food, travel and accommodation: Not included

Safe Dig Policy: We’re taking precautions (evidence of a negative test is required)

Your hosts: DigVentures and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Research context: By taking part in this ‘Dirty Weekend’, you will be contributing to real scientific research. This is the first archaeological investigation ever to be undertaken at this site, and aims to answer questions like: what kind of archaeology survives? how old is it? how deep is it? and where is it best preserved? The results and discoveries will be used to assess the potential and strategy for a large-scale archaeological excavation that you will also be able to register for in 2024.

DigVentures is registered with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. This experience can be used towards the Archaeology Skills Passport, and our team will be happy to sign off completion of the relevant skills at the end of the day.

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Date and time

1 Apr 23, 00:00 - 2 Apr 23, 00:00

Location

  • Potteric Carr Nature Reserve Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Sedum House Mallard Way
  • Doncaster
  • South Yorkshire
  • DN4 8DB

Opening Times

Nature Reserve: Monday - Sunday

9am - 5pm