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What are you expecting first time diggers to deal with?
Why do it?
Is it safe?
Where are people digging?
What about scheduled and protected areas?
Won't checking the SMR create huge amounts of extra work?
What methods are you using?
Who's behind it?
How do you know that using guidelines works?
What support do the participants get?
What if they find something important?
What about conservation?
What happens to the finds?
What happens afterwards?
Won't everyone think they can dig anything after this?
What are you expecting first time diggers to deal with?
We anticipate that people are not going to find anything of great archaeological significance, given the limits on the size and depth of excavation (1m x 1m x 600mm maximum depth). The guidelines are specifically written for people with no prior experience of archaeology. People will be digging an evaluation test pit in an area of no known archaeology and fully recording their findings in a standard format. Guidance will be given on how to identify archaeological features so that they are not damaged. If they find anything that could be an archaeological feature (e.g. wall, pit, change in soil colour), participants will be instructed to stop digging, record what is there and make contact with us. Any archaeology will be planned but no further excavation will be permitted.
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Why do it?
Over the years Channel 4 has conducted several surveys of Time Team viewers asking them what they would like to see and how they would like to get more involved with the programme and archaeology in general. An overwhelming number (over 80%) have said that they would like to learn all about the processes involved in archaeology and do some practical excavation.
Using a 1 metre x 1 metre test pit as a standard technique of archaeological investigation, viewers can experience all aspects of proper research, excavation, recording and reporting on a small and manageable scale. The emphasis is on educating people about how archaeology works: i.e. it's not just about excavation or finds, but includes a number of other areas which they may not always see on television: researching, recording and reporting.
The Big Dig project aims to deepen the public's understanding of how archaeology works by introducing them to methods that professional archaeologists use and to improve awareness of the importance that archaeology plays in understanding their heritage and conserving it.
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Is it safe?
Big Dig participants are required to follow strict Health and Safety guidelines. They are required to register for the scheme before they receive any information about how to conduct an excavation. This registration process involves the viewer doing several checks and meeting certain research criteria. Before the excavation starts, participants will need to carry out a risk assessment. This process protects both the viewer and the archaeology.
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Where are people digging?
Participants in the Big Dig are informed that they are permitted only to dig on land that they own. If they do not own the land they want to dig on, they are informed that they must obtain written permission from the landowner. The majority of sites will be in gardens. We don't want anybody digging known archaeological sites (i.e. anything on the SMR) regardless of whether it is legally protected.
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What about scheduled and protected areas?
Participants in the Big Dig are informed that they are not permitted to excavate on a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Registering applicants are also required to check if their proposed site is protected in any other way, for example: for development, environmental or scientific reasons; set-aside land may also be restricted.
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Won't checking the SMR create huge amounts of extra work?
Where people can check the SMR online we will be encouraging them to do so. We are conscious of the potential workload of SMR officers in certain areas and are looking at ways of easing that pressure.
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What methods are you using?
Everybody taking part in the scheme must follow detailed step-by-step guidelines including a research design, methodology, report-writing, conservation strategy and post-excavation proposals. All work will follow standard archaeological conventions.
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Who's behind it?
Qualified and experienced archaeologists are drawing up the guidelines. Representatives of EH, HS, Cadw, CBA & ALGAO are involved in a consultation process to ensure that appropriate standards are reached.
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How do you know that using guidelines works?
Channel 4 conducted a feasibility study in 2001 where a selection of groups, including schools and families, excavated test pits following written guidelines. The study proved the validity of this method and demonstrated that people with no experience of archaeology could grasp and implement all aspects of the discipline including researching, excavating, recording and reporting.
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What support do the participants get?
Registered participants will get support in a number of ways:
- interactive website with video and editorial support features
- finds identification galleries
- email question forums
- telephone support from experienced archaeologists in studio
- regionally based experienced archaeologists and museum personnel for more specific phone support and who can attend an excavation if necessary
- hard copy of background information for participants without internet access.
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What if they find something important?
Diggers will have guidelines on how to treat finds and features responsibly. They will also be given guidance on how to identify archaeology. When important discoveries such as archaeological features are made, they must report them immediately to their Regional Archaeologist where appropriate measures will be taken.
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What about conservation?
We have funds in place to cover the emergency conservation of discoveries.
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What happens to the finds?
Diggers will be processing finds as any archaeologist would do. These, together with the research material, surveys, field recording and final report, will form the site archive. This archive must be offered to the local museum, which can choose to retain it if they wish. If the museum does not want to retain the finds, they are to be kept (with the rest of the archive) by the landowner. This covers the laws of Treasure Trove in Scotland and also ensures that the local museum sees all finds in their area. People taking part in the scheme are also fully informed about their responsibility to the 1996 Treasure Act, information on which will be on the Time Team website. Reports are to be copied to us for publication on the internet and will be made available for inclusion in SMRs where appropriate.
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What happens afterwards?
We recognise that many participants will want to further their interest in and involvement with archaeology. We intend that the enthusiasm of the Big Dig participants will be filtered through to the national and local history and archaeology societies and organisations after the event. Applicants will be asked whether they want to receive mail-outs from such organisations so the database of registered participants is also a potentially valuable resource for future community support. We are working with Learndirect to provide a tailored course search for heritage management courses, archaeology degrees and local historical interest courses to help people access further resources in their areas.
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Won't everyone think they can dig anything after this?
This project will emphasise the fact that archaeology is a complicated and methodical process which holds its value in being done properly. It will give everyone the chance to discover how archaeology is carried out, yet will also highlight the responsibility that we all have in respecting our heritage resources.
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