Excavation

An Excavation is fieldwork that involves digging trenches into sites, these projects will require a degree of fitness, but often there are plenty of opportunities for all ages and abilities. It is defined as is a programme of controlled intrusive fieldwork with defined research objectives which examines, records and interprets archaeological structures and as appropriate, retrieves artefacts, ecofacts and other remains within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. The records made and objects gathered during fieldwork are studied and the results of that study published in detail appropriate to the project design.

Survey

Archaeological field survey is the methodological process by which archaeologists collect information about the location, distribution and organisation of past human cultures across a large area. A field survey is usually the result of a long period of research and planning. The process will normally start with the notion that an area is worth further investigation, or that a site requires excavation (or that it should at least be recorded in some way). These are projects that involve walking over areas collecting the information require for further study.

Survey and Excavation

Survey and Excavation is a project that involves a mix of the two previous Project Type.

Field School

Archaeological field schools is a formal training programme in archaeological methods run under the supervision of trained professionals, usually as part of a major research project. Also known as a training excavation, but many field schools cover surveying, geophysical surveys, finds processing, and a range of other work that complements the excavations themselves. Quite often they are focused on a particular organisation, university or college and may only be suitable for students in a particular educational establishment. Many though are open to volunteers and other members of teh public to learn the varied skills of arcaheology.

Underwater/Marine Archaeology

Underwater archaeology is the study of past human life, behaviours and cultures using the physical remains found in salt or fresh water or buried beneath water-logged sediment. It is most often considered as a branch of maritime archaeology. Due to the difficulties of accessing underwater sites, the application of archaeology to underwater sites emerged from the skills and tools developed by salvagers, and underwater archaeology initially struggled to establish itself as proper archaeological research.

Underwater archaeological sites consist of wrecks (shipwrecks or aircraft), the remains of structures created in water (such as crannogs, bridges or harbours) or places that where once people lived, that have been subsequently covered by water due to rising sea levels or other phenomena. On these sites you will often require some skill at diving, though some provide full training. In some cases, the underwater archaeology is complemented land based study.

Museum/Research

Museum and research archaeology is defined (broadly for the needs of this website) as the projects that are non-field based. They can include a range of options, from textile conservation, museum education, research of ceramics found on field projects and other similar activities. They may be very rewarding, as you are now putting together the jigsaw of teh story recovered by the fieldwork projects

Conservation

Conservation projects for the purpose of this website range from architectural recording of structures and the reconstruction or consolidation of buildings or landscapes to the clearing of undergrowth around monuments. Often it can be hard work, but remarkably rewarding as you will see results before you leave.

Note: These definitions are not supposed to be comprehensive, but are designed to give you a rough idea of what to expect - or what sort of project you may want to get involved in. Always read the project website to find out exactly what they are offering, for how much, and what will be expected of you.

Remember, it will be hard work, but fun! Make sure it is.

Past Horizons Team.