DigVentures

[BAJR]

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/...-new-phase

Yes, the secret is out.

The story is ready
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A new and exciting opportunity has arisen to participate in proposed archaeological excavations at the internationally significant and iconic Bronze Age site of Flag Fen in Cambridgeshire, southeast England. DigVentures, a newly formed social enterprise is now inviting people to become part of the archaeology team. (



Flag Fen was discovered in 1982 by Francis Pryor MBE, during a project to complete a dyke survey for English Heritage. It?s a classic story along the lines of how so many truly amazing sites are found: through chance, a bit of a stumble, and a lot of luck. But from the moment he picked up that first piece of pointed, shaped wood ? showing clear tool marks made by an axe roughly 1.5 inches wide ? Francis knew that he had found something special.


Interested?

The DigVentures field school at Flag Fen will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to dig alongside some of the best field archaeologists in the world. In addition to Time Team?s Raksha Dave, who will be the Project Manager and head of the field school, there will be a team of top-notch Bronze Age and wetlands archaeology specialists, who will be able to explain everything about the very special history, environment, conditions and artefacts at Flag Fen. The field school dates are, 23 July ? 12 August 2012.

Go to the DigVentures website and find out how you can contribute to the project: http://digventures.com/

[P Prentice]

who are these 'best field archaeologists in the world' exactly - i see no mention of our very own dinosaur

[the invisible man]

It's not cheap, is it?

[BAJR]

It ain't cheap but then archaeology seldom is.

Imagine you are asked to donate to save Flag Fen... and you may.... however, this is the same, except you get a thank you reward.

As to best archaeologists in the world... I know... I won't be able to go there yet... but the lovely Raksha will be (and as I like her lots I may slap anyone who disagrees!)

so go on... be happy that a site that will close and will fall apart and be lost forever is trying a new way to survive and provide us all with good information - they are soon to look at ways to allow local access and students... but give em time.

I don't often endorse things, but this is one that I feel may be another way forward . Go on... you know you can!

[kevin wooldridge]

who are these 'best field archaeologists in the world' exactly

It would be interesting to see a list of the worlds best field archaeologists. I haven't heard of any of the people who are running this company - and I imagine that no-one would be so presumptive to be self promoting - so I guess they are getting in some big guns to do the real work. But where do you advertise for staff of that category. Is there a secret BAJR job advert page that only the world's 'best archaeologists' get to see?

I'm also guessing, at ?125 a day, that this project is not aimed at the interested folk of Peterborough and near environs, so could this in reality be the beginning of a wholly new type of archaeology.... ''NON COMMUNITY' archaeology. Gosh surely only in coalition-divided Britain could such a project be promoted!!

[kevin wooldridge]

Just on another matter. I agree that Flag Fen is a very important site and should be preserved. In that sense why is it not a Scheduled Ancient Monument or a World Heritage site?

[BAJR]

Scheduled Ancient Monument (with a buffer covering most of Cambs)
World Heritage site (with no idea of really what is there... take Must Farm for example... should that be a WHS?

As to non local invovlement - I fear this may be for them to explain... I don't think this is the case..

[Dinosaur]

who are these 'best field archaeologists in the world' exactly - i see no mention of our very own dinosaur

Best use for us is doing the really tricky stuff like round here, sites where there are sweet FA finds and most of the features are near/totally invisible clay-on-clay or gravel-on-gravel, we'd be wasted on obvious stuff with goodies etc, anyone can do that, am remaining aloof and leaving it to the beginners

[kevin wooldridge]

This appears to be a Crowd Funding scheme. Have they now become legal in the UK?

[Welsh Andy]

This appears to be a Crowd Funding scheme. Have they now become legal in the UK?

Don't think crowd sourcing was ever illegal. It's just really new.
There are a few crowd sourcing type ventures in the UK.
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/
http://wedidthis.org.uk/
http://www.wefund.co.uk/

Whilst I really like the idea of crowd sourcing I don't really like that it plays into the Big Society nonsense of getting us to pay for things we should already be funding via our taxes.