The Durotriges Project ‘Big Dig’ Field School is a Bournemouth University summer field school by current students and experienced archaeologists. The fieldwork takes place within Dorset, a county of outstanding natural beauty and one of the best-preserved archaeological landscapes in Britain.
Watch our video from The Big Dig 2022 to find out more.
The Durotriges Project
The Durotriges Project is studying the role that Dorset's ancient Iron Age societies played in networks of production, exchange and communication with the rest of Britain and the continent. Students from our range of archaeology courses are able to gain hands-on experience at a fascinating site examining prehistoric roundhouses, production areas and cemeteries, while those with an interest in archaeology, Dorset's history, or the project as a whole are welcome to join us.
Updates and information can be found on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram and TikTok. You can also follow our video diary.
Read how our work in 2022 and 2024 revealed evidence for Iron Age human and animal sacrifice in Dorset. Find out about how our discovery of Iron Age graves in 2024 shows how the Durotriges adapted to the Roman conquest. Read more about our project on ancient DNA with Trinity College Dublin and the University of Bristol deciphering the structure of British Iron Age society, with evidence of female political and social empowerment, as published in the journal Nature in 2025.
Please note: You must be aged 16 or over to take part. Further information, including essential kit, specific timings, and joining instructions, can be obtained by emailing [email protected].
Key information
Next start date:
Next start date: Monday 2 June - Friday 4 July 2025
Location:
Winterborne Kingston, Dorset
Duration:
5 weeks
Entry requirements:
No formal qualifications are required to attend the field school, which has been designed for students and volunteer participants (aged 16 years or over) who wish to gain experience in archaeological field practice.