Very few of our new students each year have any previous archaeological experience, and only a handful will have done A-Level Archaeology. We do not expect students to have gained practical excavation skills before they come to University, but those who do get a little digging experience under their belts find that it really helps them to settle into the topic as they begin to study it at Stage 1 of their degree.
Many excavation projects take place in Britain each year (most of them in the summer months), and some of those run by University-based archaeologists and community groups accept volunteers over the age of 16 or 18. You need to be aware that most field projects require payment in return for the training they provide; but that’s not always the case. The Council for British Archaeology has a helpful newsfeed website listing on-going fieldwork opportunities: you should be able to find a project not too far from home.
We reserve a small number of residential placements for sixth-formers on one of our own training excavations, at Bollihope Common, Weardale. Sixth-formers living locally can also come along to Bollihope for free on a day-by-day basis.
Other annual projects taking volunteers in the Newcastle region include Vindolanda Roman Fort, Bamburgh Castle and The North Pennines Archaeology Fieldschool.