As part of an on-going community archaeology project investigating the battle of Bannockburn, GUARD Archaeology are looking for volunteers who live in the Bannockburn area to dig small test pits in their back gardens, and to get involved in the Bannockburn Big Dig next weekend!
Digging in your back garden may allow us to discover objects lost during or after the fighting in 1314 in areas previously unsearched! This is an exciting way to find out more about Stirling's history through its artefacts. You will be supervised by experienced GUARD Archaeologists and guided in hand excavation, finds discovery and identification, recording of discoveries and dating of artefacts (if you find any!). In order to get a geographical spread of gardens across the battlefield we will need to choose which gardens to investigate.
However, even if you don't live in the Bannockburn area, you can still get involved. GUARD Archaeology have already started investigating the Bannockburn Battlefield this week, but we are seeking larger numbers of volunteers to take part in the Big Dig next weekend, exploring a number of fields and open spaces around Bannockburn. The main hub will be Braehead field, close to the junction of the Broom Road and Pike Road, beside the Stirling to Falkirk railway line, where a team of our experienced archaeologists will be on hand to show you how it's done.
This archaeology work is taking place between Saturday 22 June and Sunday 23 June 2013, 10 am - 4 pm.
If you are interested in taking part, please email your details and especially your address and postcode to: bannockburnbigdig@nts.org.uk
The Bannockburn Big Dig is being undertaken by GUARD Archaeology on behalf of the National Trust for Scotland, in collaboration with Glasgow University's Centre for Battlefield Archaeology, Stirling Council and the BBC. Some elements of the work will be filmed as part of a BBC documentary to be shown in 2014, the 700th anniversary of the battle, presented by Neil Oliver and Tony Pollard.