ULAS News

Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology Returns This Weekend

The Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology is back for 2026, bringing a month-long programme of talks, excavations, guided walks and family events to communities across Leicestershire and Rutland. Running from 4 July to 2 August, the festival invites people of all ages to explore the rich heritage hidden beneath their feet and discover how…

Better slate than never!

Blog by Jonny Graham Our excavation at Leicester Market has revealed so much of everyday life in the city, from the Roman occupation up to the post-medieval, with finds and features ranging from the seemingly mundane to the extraordinary. One of the most significant structures we excavated on site was the remains of a post-medieval building known as the Gainsborough Chamber. This former two-storey civic building was first recorded in the 1500s, and infamous…

A Profession in Transition: Gender, Archaeology, and International Women’s Day 2026

Blog by Harriet Coulton. Today is International Women’s Day; a moment to reflect on and advance our shared goal of a gender‑equal world that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and free of bias and discrimination. This year, we asked archaeologists across ULAS, from field teams to post-excavation specialists and managers, to share their experiences and perceptions…

Charnwood Forest Uncovered Digs Newtown Linford FAQs

Charnwood Forest is about to reveal some of its best‑kept secrets. This spring, residents from Newtown Linford are being invited to take part in a community archaeology dig designed to uncover the hidden histories beneath their own gardens and village spaces. Led by Professor Carenza Lewis (University of Lincoln and Time Team) and archaeologists from…

Hitler will send no warning!

Blog by Nathan Flavell. Forgotten World War II air raid shelters at Southfield’s Infant School in Leicester Archaeology often brings us face‑to‑face with the distant past, but sometimes its most compelling discoveries lie just beneath our feet, hidden not for centuries, but for a single human lifetime. Such was the case at Southfields Infant School…

Charnwood Forest Uncovered Digs Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves FAQs

Charnwood Forest is about to reveal some of its best‑kept secrets. This spring, residents from Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves are being invited to take part in a community archaeology dig designed to uncover the hidden histories beneath their own gardens and village spaces. Led by Professor Carenza Lewis (University of Lincoln and Time Team) and…

Charnwood Forest Uncovered Digs Stanton Under Bardon FAQs

Charnwood Forest is about to reveal some of its best‑kept secrets. This spring, residents from Stanton under Bardon are being invited to take part in a community archaeology dig designed to uncover the hidden histories beneath their own gardens and village spaces. Led by Professor Carenza Lewis (University of Lincoln and Time Team) and archaeologists…

Digging Into 2025: A Year of Discovery, Innovation, and Celebration at ULAS

A Year to Remember As 2025 draws to a close, we thought we’d pause to reflect on a busy year. From uncovering secrets buried for millennia to celebrating our 30th anniversary, this year has showcased the very best of archaeology, storytelling, and community engagement. Join us as we journey through the highlights of a year…

A Village Through Time

Blog by Gavin Speed. Loddington Archaeology Fieldschool This year, students at the University of Leicester’s School of Heritage and Culture (SHAC) had a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in archaeological fieldwork as part of their undergraduate degree. Many of these practical skills are developed through SHAC’s immersive fieldschools, expertly run in partnership with the…

Pits, Enclosures and Barns – Excavations by The Soar, North of Quorn

Blog by Adam Clapton. In 2021, ULAS excavated 96 trenches on land north of Quorn in Leicestershire ahead of proposed development of the site which sits on the floor of the Soar valley, immediately west of the river’s current course. The evaluative work highlighted the presence of archaeological deposits across the site with finds dating…

Never mind the Bollards, here’s the Archaeology!

Blog by Gavin Speed. If you’ve been in Leicester’s city centre recently, you will have noticed the newly installed bollards. When Leicester City Council set out to install the bollards, they weren’t just reshaping traffic flow—they were opening a window into the city’s ancient past. In this blog, ULAS Project Manager Gavin Speed takes a…

Shelter from above!

Blog by Mathew Morris. Today we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. It is a reminder that history is not just about the distant past, it also has a tangible connection with living memory. Our archaeological work is also not solely devoted to ancient remains, and over the past decades we have been involved…