Oakham Castle Community Dig: Some final reflections…

Now that the excavation at Oakham Castle has successfully concluded, the trenches backfilled and we have left site, there is time for some final reflections. The project has been a fantastic success. Over two-weeks, 50 volunteers took part in the dig and we could not have achieved what we did without their dedication and enthusiasm,…

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Oakham Castle Community Dig: The dig so far…

With our first week of digging drawing to an end, we are starting to make some exciting new discoveries at Oakham Castle. Work so far has focused primarily in Trench 1 to the north-east of the Hall. First, turf and topsoil were removed with a mechanical digger. This revealed that various earth mounds within the…

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Oakham Castle Community Dig: An Introduction

Welcome to the Oakham Castle Community Archaeology Dig. This is our first post of several about the upcoming excavation, so come back to discover more about what we find as the excavation progresses. What are we doing? Well, over two weeks at the end of April 2018, University of Leicester Archaeological Services in partnership with…

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Community Archaeology opportunities in 2018

Fancy trying your hand at archaeology? Want to learn more about the history of your local community? In 2018, University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), working in partnership with Rutland County Council and the Market Bosworth Society, have two exciting opportunities for volunteers to take part in community archaeology projects. Oakham Castle Community Dig (18th…

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New film reveals challenges behind lifting and conserving a Roman mosaic

A new film produced by the University of Leicester showcases how archaeologists successfully lifted and conserved a Roman mosaic found in Leicester. During the winter of 2016/17, archaeologists from University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) excavated a large site in Leicester, on the corner of Highcross Street and Vaughan Way next to the John Lewis car…

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Living with cauldrons – Iron Age feasting at Glenfield Park

A unique collection of Iron Age metal artefacts which sheds new light on feasting rituals among prehistoric communities has been discovered by archaeologists from the University of Leicester during an excavation at Glenfield Park, Leicestershire. The team, from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), has located a trove of ancient treasures at the site,…

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Bosworth Links Test-Pit Results Announced

New evidence of Bronze Age and Anglo-Saxon activity found in community archaeological dig at Market Bosworth. Following up on the very successful community archaeological dig at Market Bosworth in July 2017, University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) are pleased to reveal the full results of Bosworth Links Dig 1. Over one weekend in July, over…

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ULAS Deputy Director named Community Archaeologist of the Year

The Council for British Archaeology has announced this year’s winners of the Marsh Community Archaeology Awards, and we are proud to say that ULAS Deputy Director Vicki Score has been awarded the Marsh Archaeology Award for Community Archaeologist of the Year. The Marsh Community Archaeology Awards, supported by the Marsh Christian Trust, celebrate excellence in…

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Castle Hill Community Dig Blog 4: Season 2 is about to start!

Well, a year has come and gone and it is September again which means Season 2 of our Castle Hill Community Dig is about to start! Last year was a huge success. The medieval archaeology proved to be far better preserved than anyone imagined. We dug three trenches, investigating the outer bank and ditch of…

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