FIELDSCHOOL MODULE AND EXPERIENCE

OPTIONS 2015
As part of the Diploma, all students are required to complete a fieldschool
module involving one week of excavation experience (or related
experience as agreed by the fieldwork co-ordinator Richard Thomas
[rmt12@le.ac.uk]).
To meet this requirement you have two options:

Either take part in the University of Leicesters Bradgate Park

(AR2560) OR Mohegan Fieldschools (AR2562);
Or find an excavation/fieldschool with another institution (a selforganised fieldschool) (AR2550).

Please note that two additional fieldschools are currently being planned
by SAAH staff (as of January 2015) and will be advertised in the coming
months.
In addition to the compulsory Fieldschool module at level 2, all BA
ARCHAEOLOGY students are required to complete a further four weeks,
non-assessed (experience only) fieldwork before they can graduate. This
field experience can be gained at any approved field project, anywhere in
the world.
Below you will find detailed information about the two SAAH fieldschools
(AR2560, AR2562), information on self-organised fieldschools (AR2550)
and what is required for experience only.

The Bradgate Park Fieldschool, UK (AR2560)

Background
This year the University of Leicester is beginning a new five-year field
school project into the history and landscape of Bradgate Park in
Leicestershire, England. Bradgate Park is located 4km north-west of the
City of Leicester and covers an 830-acre area, through which the River Lin
flows (http://bradgatepark.org/). This upland landscape is currently used
as a popular recreational park and attracts c. 400,000 visitors per annum.
The landscape is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
and is described by Natural England as one of the finest remaining
examples of ancient parkland in Leicestershire containing some of the
last remaining fragments of wet heathland in the County.
The park is first documented in 1241 (as a deer park) and is known
primarily as the location of one of the first unfortified brick-built
aristocratic houses in England (c. 1520), which was later the birth place of
Lady Jane Grey: the nine days queen. However, recent excavations of a
known late Upper Palaeolithic open site situated atop the north spur of a
gorge overlooking the River Lin has revealed an in situ stone tool

assemblage consistent with Creswellian activity. This is one of only three

sites in the UK dated to this period and is thus of national and
international significance. A LiDAR and subsequent walkover survey of the
park conducted in 2014, identified over 250 potential earthwork sites not
documented within official records. Many of these earthworks appear
prehistoric in date and include terracing and a ditched enclosure, which
suggests that human occupation and interaction with the landscape has a
longer history than previously recognised.
Despite the prominence of standing buildings and prehistoric and historic
earthworks within the Park, there are no documented antiquarian and
archaeological excavations prior to the 21st century. This is most likely
due to a combination of land-use and a lack of construction activity, which
have served to limit opportunities for archaeological research. The field
school will involve examination of multiple areas within the park to
critically evaluate previous assumptions and generate new
understandings about the occupation, use and development of an upland
landscape across a period of almost 13,000 years. The fieldwork will also
provide an opportunity for training for Archaeology students from the
University of Leicester and continues a longer-term programme aimed at
enhancing community involvement in the understanding and presentation
of important regional monuments for the benefit of the wider public.
In the first season, excavation will (permissions pending) focus upon the
courtyard and area immediately south of Bradgate House to establish the
form, function and date of identified structural remains and recover
material culture and biological evidence to characterise the living
standards of an aristocratic family, tenants and servants in Tudor and
Stewart England. Additional trenches will be placed across a medieval
moated site located adjacent to Bradgate House. It is traditionally stated
that this site is the location of the keepers lodge; however, LiDAR and
geophysical survey has identified the presence of a large stone building.
The aim of these excavations are to establish the date, function and
layout of the stone building and the presence of any ancillary buildings,
recover associated environmental evidence from the moat, and assess the
damage caused by bracken to the underlying archaeology. This
investigation will improve knowledge of the development of the manorial
estate in the region as well as assist in understanding the threats posed
by bracken to the archaeology of the park.
Staff from both the School of Archaeology and University of Leicester
Archaeological Service will undertake teaching and supervision on site:
the excavations are co-directed by Dr Richard Thomas (University of
Leicester) and James Harvey (University of Leicester Archaeological
Services). Activities will include survey, excavation and recording
techniques and finds and environmental work. You will also receive
instruction on the correct use of archaeological tools and equipment.
A significant further element of the project is to engage the public and
school groups in archaeological fieldwork and the medieval and early

modern periods through tours and temporary displays. Students should

expect to take it in turns to answer questions about the project in order to
inform the many visitors to the site.

Dates for the 2015 season:

You should register for at least ONE of the following weeks:
Week 1: 22nd June - 26th June (10-15 places)
Week 2: 29th June - 3rd July (10-15 places)
Week 3: 6th July - 10th July (10-15 places)
Of course, you are welcome to stay for two or three weeks if you want to
complete some of your experience only weeks at Bradgate Park (see
below for more details).

Accommodation and working routine

You will need to arrange your own accommodation for the week but we
can provide some contact information on hotels, B&Bs and university
accommodation within Leicester. You are welcome to book
accommodation close to the excavations but if you do you must have your
own transport as it is set in a rural location with few transport links.
The Bradgate Park working week runs from Monday through to Friday.
Daily work will be from c.9.15-5.00 pm. Students who are staying on or
near campus can join the Departmental coach that will leave from outside
the Charles Wilson building (on the main University campus) each morning
at 9.15. If travelling independently by car, there is a car park at the
entrance to the site but parking costs 4 per day. If you wish to travel
by car each day please inform Dr Thomas via email
(rmt12@le.ac.uk) in advance. You should also be sure not to leave any
valuables in the car.
You must bring your own trowel, waterproofs, strong work boots, a
notebook and pen, camera, sun cream, hat and plenty of drinking water.
Long trousers and long socks are necessary because of the potential
presence of deer ticks. You will need to bring your own lunch. There are
toilets on site and by the car park at the entrance to the site.
** If you have any health or medical issues, which should be
noted, it is essential that you contact Richard Thomas, in
confidence, as soon as possible.

Registration
If you wish to complete your fieldschool module by attending the Bradgate
Park excavations then please specify which week you wish to attend as
soon as possible as overall numbers on the projects are capped. In order

to attend Bradgate Park you must have formally registered to take the
module by 1st May 2015. In doing so, you will be joining the June intake
for this module.

Assessment
For this level 2 module you are expected to submit two pieces of work for
formal assessment: a portfolio and an essay. You will be provided with
further details of these on registering for the module. You must submit
both elements of the assessment and satisfy the fieldwork terms to
complete this module.

The Mohegan Fieldschool, USA (AR2562)

Background
The University of Leicester and the federally recognized Mohegan Tribe
are working together to study archaeological sites on the Mohegan
Reservation in Uncasville, Connecticut (established in 1671). As part of the
process of investigating present and former tribal lands, the Mohegan
Archaeological Fieldschool engages in archaeological research at preEuropean sites as well as early historic sites and reservation-era sites. The
Mohegan Fieldschool, now in its 19th year, works under the direct
supervision of Dr Craig Cipolla (University of Leicester) and staff members
of the Mohegan Archaeology Department as
authorized by the Mohegan Council of Elders.
During the course, students will learn the basics of archaeological
fieldwork, from survey and testing to more intensive excavation methods
and interpretation. Most of the course is comprised of archaeological
fieldwork at Mohegan sites, or land that is of historic importance to the
tribe.

The Dates for the 2015 season:

You should register for ONE of the following weeks:
Week 1: 22nd-26th June
Week 2: 13th-17th July

Accommodation and working routine

Students enrolled in AR2560 will be responsible for arranging their own
accommodation for the week. We recommend that you arrange to stay in the
Connecticut College dormitories. Please contact Craig Cipolla (cc363@le.ac.uk)
for the proper contact information for the dormitories. You are also responsible
for daily transport to the site.

The Mohegan work week runs from Monday morning through Friday afternoon.
The Monday morning session will begin with a site tour and orientation, plus
some actual fieldwork. Daily work runs from 9 am to 4 pm. Students staying at
Connecticut College should be prepared to leave for work promptly at 8:30 am
each day. Please contact Craig Cipolla if you plan on driving to the site with your
own vehicle.
We will work in the field almost every day. (On rain-days we will work in the
Mohegan archaeological laboratories washing and sorting artefacts.) This means
that you should come prepared to work outdoors every day, i.e. wearing clothes
that you dont mind getting dirty. I recommend wearing long pants, hiking boots,
long socks, and hats to keep the sun off. You would do best to choose clothing
that is also fairly breathable since it can get hot and humid in Connecticut during
July/August. I also recommend bringing a sweatshirt and light rain jacket in case
of unexpected weather (this is New England after all!). Since we will be working
in the woods, poison ivy and Lyme disease (transmitted by deer ticks) are two
very real dangers. With the proper clothing and preparation, we will do our best
to avoid these problems. We will discuss these issues further once we all arrive,
but you can read more about Lyme disease here:
http://www.aldf.com/lyme.shtml. You may also want to invest in a cheap pair of
sunglasses, some poison ivy wash (e.g. Tecnu), sunscreen, bug spray (I
recommend Deep Woods Off with DEET), a reusable water bottle, and reusable
lunch bags and Tupperware (everyone should bring their lunch and a healthy
supply of water).
Field equipment and supplies that you should bring:

Field bag: something like a backpack to keep your field equipment,

notes, and lunch in; this will get dirty
Pointed archaeology trowel: I recommend a wooden Marshalltown like
this: http://www.forestrysuppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?mi=3159
Retractable metric measuring tape
Metal-edged ruler (metric)

** If you have any health or medical issues, which should be

noted, it is essential that you contact Dr Craig Cipolla, in
confidence, as soon as possible.

Registration
If you wish to complete your fieldschool module by attending the Mohegan
excavations then please specify which week you wish to attend as soon as
possible as overall numbers on the projects are capped.

Assessment
For this level 2 module you are expected to submit two pieces of work for
formal assessment: a portfolio and an essay. You will be provided with

further details of these on registering for the module. You must submit
both elements of the assessment and satisfy the fieldwork terms to
complete this module.

Self-Organised Fieldwork (AR2550)

We accept students at all three intakes per year to complete the SelfOrganised Fieldschool module. Your chosen fieldwork destination needs to
be agreed in advance of going on an excavation as the choice of project
needs to be authorised by the Schools Fieldwork co-ordinator, Dr Richard
Thomas (rmt12@le.ac.uk). In the first instance you should download the
Fieldwork Proposal form from the Blackboard site (under Fieldwork:
AR3999). Fill this in and submit it to the DL hub (artshumsdl@le.ac.uk)
and the fieldwork co-ordinator (rmt12@le.ac.uk). The fieldwork coordinator will then assess whether the proposed project offers suitable
training and conforms to certain guidelines on safety and insurance. You
will then be contacted to confirm whether your proposal has been
accepted

Registration
When deciding which intake to take your assessment in, you will need to
consider the following guidelines in advance:
If your fieldwork is completed between 1st December and 30th March at
the latest you should join the February intake.
If your fieldwork is completed between the 1st April and the 31st July at
the latest you should join the June intake.
If your fieldwork is completed between the 1st August and the 30th
November at the latest you should join the October intake.

Assessment
For this level 2 module you are expected to submit two pieces of work for
formal assessment: a portfolio and an essay. You will be provided with
further details of these on registering for the module but should be aware
that the submission deadline for both assignments is that listed under the
relevant registration intake above. You must submit both elements of the
assessment and satisfy the fieldwork terms to complete this module.
In order to be able to provide help and advice in the preparation of the
essay we ask students to produce a short reading list of books/articles you
plan to use in advance of submission. This is not formally assessed.

Fees
Students taking the Self-organised Fieldschool module pay a reduced fee
of 200 for this module regardless of where they are based. This fee will
cover the assessment element of the module. Fees are due when

registering for the module, further details on your assessment will only be
provided once fees are paid.

Experience Only
What is an 'approved' field project?
Any project organised by a university, archaeology unit or local
archaeology institution would be fine, but you need to check with us first.
If you have identified a project you would like to work on you need to fill
out the fieldwork proposal form on Blackboard (under Fieldwork: AR3999)
in which you will need to tell us the name of the project, who is organising
it, and provide a website link to the project. Once this is completed,
submit the form to the DL hub (artshumsdl@le.ac.uk) and the fieldwork
co-ordinator (rmt12@le.ac.uk). We will then email you to confirm whether
it is a suitable project.
You are of course welcome to come to the Bradgate Park project that we
run every year in June and July. There would be a small charge for
students who wish to attend to gain further experience (250 per week).
Other staff in the School of Archaeology and Ancient History welcome
students on their fieldwork and will send out emails to current students
asking for volunteers when opportunities arise.
What constitutes a week?
Many projects have a six day working week, but others may allow you to
attend for a five day working week. So a week is either five or six days in
the field.
Do I need to do the four weeks all in one go?
No. You can do one four week block of fieldwork if you would like to, or you
could do four separate weeks, or even include single days of fieldwork. As
long as your total amount of field/lab experience reaches six weeks (four
weeks experience plus attendance on the AR2560 Fieldschool and AR3551
Archaeological Practice modules) before you graduate.
How do I record my field experience?
There is a field experience recording sheet on Blackboard (under
Fieldwork: AR3999).Make sure you take a copy of the form with you and
get the project director, or field director to sign it for you.
I have health issues that mean I cannot dig (or dig for extended
periods); does this mean I cannot take part in field projects?
In any field project there is a variety of tasks that need to be carried out in
addition to excavation. Survey, recording, and finds processing are all very
important. As long as you talk to the organisers in advance, you will be
able to do a range of tasks and gain wide experience. Occasionally

students have issues that make it difficult to be away from home or work
outside, and it is possible in exceptional circumstances to gain this nonassessed four weeks of field experience working in a local museum or
similar.
Irrespective of whether you choose to come and dig with the School or
wish to organise your own fieldwork arrangements in conjunction with us
we hope you will enjoy the module and at the same time learn more about
the process of archaeological field investigation.
Best wishes,
Richard Thomas
Fieldwork Co-ordinator
School of Archaeology & Ancient History
University of Leicester
LE1 7RH
E-mail: rmt12@le.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 116 252 3343