The Truth About UK Archaeology?

Question

We're all familiar with Time Team where the archaeologists are funded by Channel 4 I expect and work to TIGHT time constraints and with very limited options regarding what and where they can dig... but what is the process of finding, funding, starting, recording and finishing off an archaeological dig in the UK in the REAL world?

Are archaeological teams in the employ of the National Trust? Private investors? etc?

How many people will be involved in a dig? What are their jobs? And what is the chain of command?

When they go in, what is the process? Who goes in first and what do they do? Then who? What do they do? And so on...

What systems are used to record the finds and where do the artefacts go and when? Do they go to labs employed by the same people? Or third party labs?

Are real digs limited by time and how much soil they can dig like in Time Team?

Anyone know where I can find out more or even contact some real pros?

Any other information is much appreciated!

Answer 1

Also there is a lot more to archaeology than just digging. Archaeologists are employed as researchers at universities, in museums and also work in local government as part of the planning process. Whilst not all of us 'dig' we're still very much a part of the archaeological process.

Most excavations in the UK are developer funded because they are undertaken as part of the planning process. Archaeology must be taken into account during the planning process as part of Planning Policy and Guidance 16 (or PPG16 as it more commonly known as). Under this applicants may be subject to archaeological planning conditions such as an evaluation or a watching brief. An evaluation is a series of trenches that are excavated ahead of development to evaluate the potential for archaeology on a site and if there is known archaeology on the site its state of preservation. A watching brief is when archaeologists must be on site during groundworks to watch in case anything of archaeological significance is encountered. If something is encountered it will be written into the brief that they must allow a set amount of time for the archaeologists to record, if necessary excavate further, and salvage what has been found.

In most local authorities in the UK will have an archaeologist who advises the planners on archaeological matters. They are also responsible for agreeing programs of work with commercial units (those that actually undertaken the excavating on behalf of the developer) and ensuring that the planning conditions relating to archaeology are fulfilled. As well as an archaeological officer (or county archaeologist) many authorities will also have a Historic Environment Record Officer or Sites and Monuments Record Officer who is responsible for the database of all known sites in that area. They are consulted by units when they have to undertake assessments of a site prior to any excavation as well as local societies, members of the public, landowners etc etc.

If you want to talk to professionals who work in commercial units and do the digging, I'd suggest that you use the yellow pages as most will put themselves in there. If you want to find out more about archaeologists in museums, contact your local museum and if you want to find out more about the planning side of archaeology or the Historic Environment Record in your area they are all listed on the Heritage Gateway website.

As an archaeologist myself please feel free to contact me privately should you have any further questions. I work on the local government side rather than the digging side though!

Answer 2

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

No.No.No.No.No.MAKE IT STOP. No. No.No.No.No.No.

Answer 3

My daughter is a professional archaeologist. It's nothing like Time Team! You want to hear what "proper" archaeologists say about that!

This may be quite an essay. First, you have to do a degree, preferably in archaeology. Then you have to find a training post, the contract will probably be for 6 months. Young archaeologists only get these short-term contracts, for 3 or 6 months, so are constantly applying for jobs. My daughter has been promoted to be an assistant supervisor. That grade and supervisors have jobs as long as the funding lasts. That is the chain of command.

The National Trust and English Heritage do have archaeology departments, but most archaeologists are employed by Archaeological Trusts, which are usually based near County Headquarters. These days most work is done on building sites, the developers are obliged to have an archaeological survey before they can go ahead, and they have to fund it by paying the Trust to organise it. So the majority of digs won't find anything, but there are occasional gems. In Kent, my daughter found an Iron Age skeleton, complete with a whole burial pot, and near Bristol, her team found a Bronze Age horse skeleton. She also found an ancient brooch somewhere.

A lot of things depend on the size of the dig. Daughter has sometimes been on her own, or in a team of 40. They usually start by having machines taking off the top soil, the drivers supervised by archaeologists. Then, when the nitty-gritty starts, the archaeologists use cement type spades, but a smaller 4" size. The site archaeologists have to measure everything carefully, and keep written records. Every so often (usually when the weather is bad) they will have a day or two in the office, catching up on the paperwork. These people work for the rest of the duration of the dig.

The artefacts are cleaned by specialists at the Trust Head Office. They may go to museums, sometimes to the developer, depends on what is found, and the terms of the contract.

Real digs are limited by time, but not as rushed as Time Team. The time limit may be extended if the weather has been wet, say, making the ground boggy, or if interesting things are found. They move the waste soil in wheelbarrows to a tip, as much as is needed. This may be put back when they have finished, or transported elsewhere, as required.

Archaeology jobs are advertised on the internet, or in the Guardian on Thursdays. No guarantee that there is something every week. That would give you Trust addresses. You could also Google "Your County" Archaeological Trust.

Another thing you can try. There are magazines to which you can subscribe, like Current Archaeology. Google, unlikely you can get in newsagent. Professional archaeolgists don't bother, but the magazines are interesting, and have a lot of information.

One last thing. Archaeology is one of the worst paid professions for graduates.

Answer 4

A lot of Qs there. There are quite a few books about 'Time Team' as well as others dealing with digs. They give a lot of the answers you want and are mostly available from your local library. You could also try contacting your local museum. Some, not all, welcome volunteers on a dig. They need people to help with the digging to allow the experts to do their job quickly because most digs are limited by time, because of funding, weather, or they are on a building site.

Answer 5

Most counties have an archeological society - it's run by very knowledgable but unpaid people.

Try doing a search for "(your county) archaeological society"