Training Digs

Training opportunities at Wessex Archaeology

Each year, Wessex Archaeology run a Practical Archaeology Course. Explore what has happened in previous years from the links on the right.

Training Digs: Practical Archaeology Training Course at Down Farm, Sixpenny Handley (2004-2008)

For the last five years, Wessex Archaeology has run a series of very successful five day courses at Dr Martin Green’s farm on Cranborne Chase, “one of the most carefully studied areas in western Europe”. The Down Farm landscape includes parts of the Dorset Cursus and Ackling Dyke, Bronze Age barrows and Roman and Iron Age buildings. It is a rich, multi-period site in a wonderful setting.

Archaeological Reports

2004 Report | 2005 Report | 2006 Report | 2007 report

Photos

Here are a selection of photos from the 2008 course:

Training

The course included instruction and practice in site surveying, excavation, recording (the production of both written records and scale drawings) and finds processing.

During the week there were lectures and workshops on environmental sampling, pottery analysis, faunal remains (bones) and surveying techniques.