How to Join
2027 Summer Excavation
* Provisional dates & times*
Monday 31st May to Friday 9th July
Monday to Friday
Four week Training Course: 31st May to 26th June
We are happy to welcome volunteers with all levels of experience and ability, please do get involved! There is always plenty of work for volunteers, both in the field for those keen to dig and in finds processing. We sometimes have environmental processing work available for volunteers who want to try their hand at floatation or residue sorting. There are also limited places available on the field training school for those who wish to learn new skills providing the same training as is given to the Canterbury Christ Church students for their undergraduate degree course.
To join us for the next excavation season, complete the application form (blue button) and confirm that you have read the Health and Safety guidlines (red button). Email the form to join@culverproject.co.uk
We do charge a modest fee for participation; this goes towards the running cost of the excavation and the specialist research essential to reach publication. Details of fees and payment are listed below and are on the application form.
Your volunteer place and permission to join will be confirmed on receipt of your dig fee.
Whilst we try to encourage younger volunteers, anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; 16 & 17-year-olds can volunteer to excavate providing a parent/guardian signs a consent form. We regret that it is not practical for under-10s to work on the site due to Health & Safety guidance.
Click for Volunteer's Application Form Click for Health & Safety on Site
Click for Under 18s Consent Form
Some other CAP Policy Documents that your may want to consult
Click on the title to download
Volunteer Policy Data Protection Policy Anti Harassment & Bullying Policy
Children & Adults at Risk Safeguarding Policy Complaints Procedure Policy
Current price lists can be found below, along with a description of the facilities available on-site and a list of what you will need to bring with you.
If you have any other questions please contact - information@culverproject.co.uk
participation costs
Volunteer Fees
£100 for 5 days
£160 for 10 days
£200 for 15 days
£260 for 20 days
£400 season (30 days)
Volunteer with Camping
£150 per week includes dig fees
24 hours / 7 days use of
showers, toilets, rest room,
well fitted kitchen & laundry
Undergrad level Field School Training with Camping
4 week training course
See programme details below
email join@culverproject.co.uk for UK fees & application form
or
heidi.stoner@canterbury.ac.uk if coming from overseas for the
International Field School
Volunteering and Training Course runs Monday to Friday: Start and End times to be confirmed
Facilities
Culver Project volunteers, students and campers have access to a purpose built facilities block a short walk of the campsite, the excavation site and the finds processing unit/lecture hall.
Facilities include:
Full working kitchen with;
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Oven/hob/microwaves
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Fridge/freezers
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Toasters
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Kettles
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Dishwashers
Bathroom facilities with;
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Hot water
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Showers
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Flushing toilets
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Hand-washing facilities
Common area with;
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Indoor seating
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Tables
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Electricity supply
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Archaeological library
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There is also the use of a washing machine and tumble dryer
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Limited parking is available
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Camping is in a designated field at Bridge Farm
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There is NO WIFI at the site
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Click for data sheet on Public Transport
What to Bring
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4" WHS trowel
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Sturdy footwear
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Water bottle
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Hat
All volunteers and students must have a current tetanus vaccination (unless exempt) and should have read our Risk Assessment and Control Plan documents, see below:
If you are planning to camp, you are required to bring your own equipment. Meals are not provided, though there is full self-catering facilities and there are pubs within longer walking distance selling hot food.
Campers are advised to be prepared for all weather conditions- the nights can be fairly cold, even in June/July. Sleeping mats are recommended and ear plugs can be beneficial for light sleepers. Don't forget to bring a torch, you will be in the country!
It is recommended that all volunteers read our site manual, To CAP it all, (see below) and will be required to read Section 3 on Health and Safety on Site before being allowed on the excavation.
Risk Assessment
Risk control plan
Health & Safety Statement
To CAP it ALL
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Waterproof clothing
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Sunscreen
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Lunch/snacks (self-catering)
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Gardening/work gloves
Field school
The CAP field school is predominantly run for the first and second year undergraduate archaeology students of Canterbury Christchurch University. However, there are a limited number of places available for volunteers and students from other institutions who wish to improve their excavation skills, learn about different fieldwork techniques, or be trained in how to use the range of different tools and equipment often used on archaeological sites.
The fieldwork training is equivalent to that received by undergraduate students completing degree-level courses at university and is provided by a range of different specialists. The aim is to give participants a good overview of different field methods used in archaeology, whilst also engaging them in current research. During the first two weeks, participants spend most of their time learning new skills in both classroom-type sessions and during hands-on practical training exercises. The two optional weeks are mainly spent in the field, putting these new skills into practice and working alongside volunteers, students and experienced excavators to contribute to the research project. Much of the course is based on directions given in our site manual, To CAP it all, which is available for free download from our publications page.
We cover the following techniques/skills (subject to weather conditions and availability):
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Site health and safety
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Excavation techniques
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Magnetometry survey
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Resistivity survey
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Use of 'total station' and 'dumpy' level
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Excavation recording
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Plan drawing
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Section drawing
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Site formation
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Environmental archaeology
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Finds processing
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Archaeological photography
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Site grid set-up
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Standing vernacular building recording
email join@culverproject.co.uk for UK fees & application form
or
heidi.stoner@canterbury.ac.uk if coming from overseas
Follow this link to a video of CCCU students at Bridge Farm: https://youtu.be/6IRAkXkkhjI
Press button for training course programme
The Stuart Alexander McGregor Scholarship - New from 2027
A scholarship award towards the CAP Field School fees made to honour the immeasurable contribution to the Culver Archaeological Project by Stuart McGregor. Stuart was a key member of the CAP team for many years until his untimely death in October 2018 at just 58 years old. He had become interested in archaeology via forensics when serving as a mounted policeman with the Met but soon widened his horizons and threw himself into all aspects of the project whether it be metal detecting, geophysics, excavation, or site and artefact photography, and our principal site planner from 2014. In 2013 he had also taken on the arduous task of Project Chairman which at the time involved much of the general and financial administration. It was a time of great importance as the project had just secured a considerable Heritage Lottery Grant and Stuart was one of the committee members responsible for awarding the tender for the 2013 Community Excavation to AOC Archaeology. In 2015 he was part of the crew that built the facilities block needed for the provision of the undergraduate field school and his elevation drawing of the interior of the stone-lined well in 2017 was a master class in ingenuity linked with meticulous production. He was universally liked and is still remembered with great fondness by all of us who had the honour of knowing and working with him.
Full details on how to apply will be announced shortly - watch this space
