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Dig It!’s Summer Campaign Celebrates Scotland’s World-Class Archaeology and Highlights Budget-Friendly Activities for the Public

21st June 2023 | Categories: Uncategorised

Now in its fifth iteration, national campaign Scotland Digs 2023: Free Days Out (coordinated by the Society’s Dig It! project) will assemble updates and fieldwork events for the public through social media and an online hub from 21 June to 22 September.

Photo of two people kneeling in a trench looking at an artefact

The Cairns excavation in Orkney with UHI Archaeology Institute is one of many archaeological fieldwork events that will be welcoming members of the public this summer during Dig It!’s Scotland Digs 2023: Free Days Out campaign.

Survey, recording and excavation will take place in urban and rural areas across the country, with many sites welcoming members of the public with free tours, open days and volunteering opportunities – no experience required.

Archaeological fieldwork which welcomes visitors or volunteers is taking place in Edinburgh, Fife, Orkney, and many more local authority areas. Developer-led archaeology undertaken as part of the planning process (such as the building of new houses, schools or roads) will also take place over the summer. Head over to the Dig It! website for details. More events will be announced throughout the campaign.

For anyone who is unable to attend sites in person, fieldwork organisers will be posting updates on social media throughout the summer using #ScotlandDigs2023.

Dr Jeff Sanders FSAScot, Dig It!’s Project Manager, said:

“Archaeology is all about discovering Scotland’s stories which is one of the reasons why we’re excited about this summer of fieldwork events. Scotland Digs 2023: Free Days Out gives the public an opportunity to get involved in unearthing these stories while offering budget-friendly ways to , connect with others, get outdoors and learn new skills at a time when value for money is on a lot of people’s minds.”

Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said:

“We are thrilled to support Dig It! with their exciting Scotland Digs 2023 programme of events this year. The open days at various archaeological sites throughout Scotland are a great way for members of the public to form new connections with our built heritage from a range of different eras.

“We encourage everyone interested to take part in local activities wherever possible, and to take this opportunity to enjoy the history that surrounds us, whether that be in the buildings we work in, the fields we walk past, or the hills we climb.”

Dig It!, which advertises archaeology events throughout the year, is coordinated by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and primarily funded by Historic Environment Scotland.

For more information, follow #ScotlandDigs2023 or visit DigItScotland.com

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