County’s Archive & Archaeology Service Inspires Future Archaeologists

This immersive weekend delivered by Worcestershire County Council’s Archive and Archaeology Service inspired participants by offering hands-on experience with both pre- and post-excavation work, the parts of archaeology not typically seen on TV! They conducted their own research into an archaeological site and got practical experience washing finds from a Roman excavation. The weekend concluded with a Q&A session and an inspiring talk from Neil Redfern, the Director of the Council for British Archaeology, who travelled from York to support and motivate the participants.

At the end of the weekend, two participants commented: “I particularly found it helpful to see the different job roles involved” and “doing the case study and seeing firsthand how the dig process works was very useful.” It is hoped that further funding can be found to build on this event in the future, as provision for heritage work experience is currently limited.

Karen May, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Communities for Worcestershire County Council said: “We are incredibly proud of the impact the Careers Insight Weekend has had on these young aspiring archaeologists. Providing them with a hands-on, immersive experience not only helps them understand the field better but also ignites their passion for our rich cultural heritage.”

The Careers Insight Weekend was made possible through a Marsh Award prize, awarded by the Council for British Archaeology to Worcestershire’s Small Pits, Big Ideas project for winning Community Archaeology Project of the Year 2023. This award-winning project, managed by the Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology Service on behalf of the Worcestershire Archaeological Society, also received additional funding from the society, ensuring the success of the Careers Insight Weekend.

For more information about Worcestershire County Council’s Archive & Archaeology Service, visit the Explore the Past website.