“I didn’t realise ordinary people could do archaeology”
So said Claire from York the day after she had taken part in the Excavation Training Day on 11th July and liked it so much that she returned to volunteer for the Planning Team the following day.
“I thought you had to go to university, get a degree and do a lot of training before you could take part in a dig. I have been wanting to have a go at archaeology for years, but it seemed so exclusive and it wasn’t until I read the article in the York Press about this dig and looked on the website that I found it was really easy to get involved”. Kate was one of 20 adults and families taking part in the second Excavation Training Day last Saturday, which was followed by another 15 people learning to sort and manage the Finds from the dig on Sunday.
So said Claire from York the day after she had taken part in the Excavation Training Day on 11th July and liked it so much that she returned to volunteer for the Planning Team the following day.
“I thought you had to go to university, get a degree and do a lot of training before you could take part in a dig. I have been wanting to have a go at archaeology for years, but it seemed so exclusive and it wasn’t until I read the article in the York Press about this dig and looked on the website that I found it was really easy to get involved”. Kate was one of 20 adults and families taking part in the second Excavation Training Day last Saturday, which was followed by another 15 people learning to sort and manage the Finds from the dig on Sunday.
Lots going on - photography and planners in the background doing detailed recording work plus a couple of volunteer excavators looking on. What is not obvious to most people is that there are many different jobs on a dig and Claire’s interest in Planning is a real bonus. Many people really enjoy the thrill of discovering buildings or artefacts which have lain undisturbed for hundreds of years but very few try the planning role. It is a key element and requirement of archaeology. Step by step and stage by stage everything which is discovered has to be photographed, recorded and plotted on scale drawings before it is removed to reveal earlier deposits.
Children from Monk Fryston Primary School enjoying their Finding Fryston experience. Before the weekend we had a very busy Friday with visits from Monk Fryston Primary School, a local history society and South Milford Brownies as well as continuing to excavate across the site.
We are pleased to say that things are going well and this is reflected by Rick Weights Head of MF School who commented “We all had a really fantastic time. We were really inspired and fascinated by what we experienced. This will leave memories with our children, and has also helped them to develop a better understanding of the place in which they are growing up.”
We are pleased to say that things are going well and this is reflected by Rick Weights Head of MF School who commented “We all had a really fantastic time. We were really inspired and fascinated by what we experienced. This will leave memories with our children, and has also helped them to develop a better understanding of the place in which they are growing up.”
 Simon - with the excavation training team |  Simon up a ladder photographing trench 2 prior to its further excavation |
Mark Taylor Chair of Towton Battlefield Society also commented after their recent visit, “This project is very interesting, lots to see, good interaction with the heritage team, hands on and the project told a story which resonated with the group and had links to their own past and interests”.
This weekend we stage our second Open Day on Saturday 18th July between 10 am and 4pm. We hope lots more people will visit the site, learn more about archaeology and Fryston’s heritage.
This weekend we stage our second Open Day on Saturday 18th July between 10 am and 4pm. We hope lots more people will visit the site, learn more about archaeology and Fryston’s heritage.
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