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, though this is subject to availability.  We provide the same training as is given to the CCCU students for their undergraduate degree course.

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To join us for the next excavation season, register your interest by filling in the application and health and safety forms below. Email these to join@culverproject.co.uk and we will get back to you with regards to availability. We do charge a small fee for participation, and this goes towards the cost of bringing the research to publication, whilst also contributing to the maintenance and running costs of the excavation.

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The 2020 excavation dates - 1st June to the 11th July

Monday to Saturday 9.30-5.30

Unfortunately, we are not always able to cater for children and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Younger volunteers are welcome, but there must be suitable work available for them to complete during their visit, a situation which is changeable so please ask in advance.

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If you have any other inquiries, please do not hesitate to ask - information@culverproject.co.uk  

Volunteer application form

Health and safety questionaire

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.

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Volunteer Only 

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£25 for up to 7 days

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£40 for up to 14 days

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£60 for whole season

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Volunteer with Camping

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£50 per week

includes dig fees

and use of showers, toilets, kitchen, rest room and laundry

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Field School Training with Camping

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£500 for comprehensive

2 week training course

Early June

See details below 

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The Culver Project headquarters has been specially built for the use of all volunteers and campers and is a short walk of the campsite, the excavation site and the finds processing unit.

Facilities include:

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Full working kitchen with;

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• Oven/hob

• Fridge/freezer

• Toaster

• Kettle

• Microwaves

Bathroom facilities with;

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• Hot water

• Showers

• Flushing toilets

• Hand-washing facilities

Common area with;

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• Indoor seating

• Tables

• Electricity supply

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There is NO WIFI at the site

• There is also the use of a washing machine and tumble dryer

• Limited parking is available

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Camping is in a designated field at Bridge Farm close to CAP headquarters

• 4" WHS trowel

• Sturdy footwear

• Water bottle

• Hat

• Waterproof clothing

• Sunscreen

• Lunch/snacks (self-catering)

• ​Gardening/work gloves

All volunteers and students must have a current tetanus vaccination 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 at HQ 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. 

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Risk Assessment

Risk control plan

Safety on site

To CAP it ALL

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 final 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

• Excavation techniques

• Magnetometry survey

• Resistivity survey

• Use of 'total station' and 'dumpy' level

• Excavation recording

• Plan drawing

• Section drawing

• Site formation

• Environmental archaeology

• Finds processing

• Archaeological photography

• Site grid set-up

• Standing vernacular buildings

Training course programme

Training course application form

Health and safety questionnaire

Send completed forms to join@culverproject.co.uk