Archaeology Fieldwork Bursaries at Vindolanda 2015
In 2015, the Roman Society and Roman Research Trust generously funded 6 places for young students (16-18 year olds) to take part on a fully funded two week placement on the Vindolanda excavations. Over 100 applications were made to the scheme and from those six winners were chosen to take part. Two of the places were scheduled over the Easter Holidays and the remaining four took place over the School summer holidays. Each applicant was offered full board accommodation in the Vindolanda archaeological study centre (Hedley Building) for their two week experience. The scheme was a great success for the students and for the Vindolanda Trust which was delighted by their work ethic and application during their stay. They worked in a variety of archaeological environments, from immediate post-Roman foundations to pre-Hadrianic anaerobically preserved remains.
The comments below represent extracts from the feedback from the young students about their experience.
‘I'd like to thank you and everyoneinvolved in allowing me the place at Vindolanda, it was the best experience of my life and I am very grateful for that opportunity. Vindolanda taught me a lot of skills which I am so thankful for. I learnt properly howfield archaeology works and many of the skills and methods I had learned in sixth form (I gained a better understanding of through the practical work as opposed to the theory). I learnt how to properly work in a team, and how to communicate in order to get the work done effectively (which I really enjoyed).
Being at Vindolanda taught me more about the Romans and more about the Romans in the area, which I didn't know much about! It made me more active and healthier, and made me appreciate the hard labour and the effort that goes into a dig like that. Before Vindolanda I hadn't really considered field archaeology as a possible career path, but now I really want to do field archaeology. It also improved my social skills, before I would shy away from meeting strangers, but this was different and I loved the people I met and worked with!Those 2 weeks were the best two weeks of my life and it was such a great experience! I haven't stopped talking about it as well, I'm sure people are sick of me talking about it but I can't stop! We have also came across Vindolanda doing Roman Britain in Classics and my teacher and many others are so jealous of my time at Vindolanda! ‘Rachel Nesbitt
‘A huge thank you for giving me the opportunity to dig at Vindolanda this summer. I would not have been able to even think about coming if it wasn’t for the very generous bursary I was awarded and I am so grateful I was able to take part. I loved every minute of it. It was a unique experience for me. It was so exciting discovering such a mixture of well preserved, everyday artefacts as well as more unusual finds like the Roman standard. Despite the aches and blisters in the first few days, the thrill of being involved in real history felt amazing. Knowing our finds could contribute to the understanding of the culture felt really important to me.‘
It was also great to meet such a diverse and interesting group of people from all walks of life. Everyone was always so cheerful and chatty. To begin with I was surprised how many people had been before but it soon became very clear why – the atmosphere is so positive, the work is hard but important and enjoyable and the staff are really approachable and enthusiastic. Our surroundings were beautiful too – not only the countryside but the Vindolandasite as well. I really appreciated staying at the Hedley Centre too - it was a comfortable place to stay with fantastic food and it was great living on site. I had a really fantastic break. Thank you!
This experience has been incredibly helpful with regards to my future. I had recently decided to minor in Archaeology at university and the dig confirmed my interest because I found I really loved it. Nothing beats the feeling of being the first person to discover something that has been hidden for hundreds of years. It made me realise that I would like to continue doing work in this area and I am looking forward to reapplying to come next year. Luckily, my dad now has a job so I will not needa bursary but I am really looking forward to being part of the team again – I have even persuaded my mum to come! Thank you for a brilliant two weeks.’ Florence Wynne
‘I write today to thank you very much for the bursary to excavate at Vindolanda. I had an absolutely tremendous time and hope that I was helpful on the site. Vindolanda is a site which is particularly special to me. I first visited aged 13 with school just before the conversion of the museum. The site was my first formal excavation and the subject of my standard grade Scottish GCSE equivalent project. Thank you again for the opportunity to excavate at the site. It is this which helped me decide to read archaeology at University.’ Alice Jaspers.
Andrew Birley
CEO and Director of Excavations
The Vindolanda Trust