The Hands-on Heritage volunteer project at Avalon Archaeology has received a national commendation at the 2023 Archaeological Achievement Awards.
The volunteer-project has created an exciting new archaeological site on the Somerset Levels. A dedicated band of volunteers has spent a decade creating a range of vibrant archaeological reconstructions that are now open to the public to experience and enjoy. These include a Saxon longhall, the dining room of a Roman villa with working hypocaust heating, and an Iron Age roundhouse that is currently under construction.
The project was ‘Highly Commended’ in the ‘Engagement and Participation’ category (sponsored by University Archaeology UK) of the awards which were held in York on Friday 24 November. The ‘Engagement and Participation’ award focuses on broadening participation in archaeology in all forms with an emphasis on the quality of participants’ experience.
These were two amazing projects, each with different aims, objectives, audiences (and budgets) that scored very highly. The judges felt that these projects could be easily replicated across the country and are great examples of what can be achieved through archaeology to benefit communities (and the wider public).
The judges’ commenting on both runners up
The project began a decade ago as part of the award-winning Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Hand-on Heritage volunteers met once a week, guided by Dr Richard Brunning (MCIFA) Senior Historic Environment Officer with the South West Heritage Trust. Dr Brunning provided the expertise to ensure that as far as possible the recreations were based on direct evidence from archaeological sites and historical sources. Just over 110 volunteers have contributed to the project over its lifespan. The oldest volunteer was 89 and the local young archaeologists club (Mick Aston’s Young Archaeologists/ MAYANS) have also taken part.
Amongst the many skills acquired by the participants are wood carving, carpentry, glass and lead work, fresco and mural painting, lath and plaster and wattle and daub walling, thatching, shingle making, tile roofing and mosaic creation.
The volunteer group has been run in a friendly and inclusive way with little formality and much good humour. This has created something of a family atmosphere where all the volunteers have been able to bond with each other, including people of different backgrounds. The inclusive atmosphere coupled with the palpable sense of achievement in what has been created have helped to give the individuals taking part a genuinely enjoyable social experience that has helped their well being and sense of worth.
Dr Richard Brunning, Senior Historic Environment Officer with the South West Heritage Trust
The other runner up in the category was York Archaeology’s ‘Archaeology on Prescription’ and the winner was CAER Heritage: ‘The Hidden Hillfort Project.’
