Be an archaeologist for a day in Trim

If you’ve ever wondered what it would like to be an archaeologist for a day, now’s your chance.
The Irish Archaeology Field School (IAFS) and Blackfriary Community Heritage and Archaeology Project (BCHAP) are holding their first ever 'community dig’ at the Black Friary heritage site in Trim, as part of heritage week which runs from 22nd to 28th August.
IAFS have been excavating the Black Friary since 2010 and since then have welcomed hundreds of students from all over the world to participate in their unique archaeology and heritage programmes.
However, this is the first time they have held a dig specifically for the local community, with all the international students having recently returned home.
Since 2010 IAFS have also been instrumental in coordinating the Blackfriary Community Heritage and Archaeology Project (BCHAP), an umbrella group which draws together the local community, IAFS, Meath County Council and a range of other partners, including Dig it Kids.
BCHAP’s main objectives are to protect and promote an understanding of the heritage of the Black Friary and the town of Trim, with the group now being well known throughout the town for the educational and interactive heritage events it provides.
The community dig is the highlight of BCHAPs 2016 summer calendar of events, and promises to be a great opportunity for Trim locals to engage with their heritage in a new and innovative way.
“As part of the community dig we are planning to explore the boundary which separated the friary from the town. Based on previous research this boundary is likely to be ditch, possibly with an associated bank on one side. Typically ditches, when they filled up, were used as convenient places to dispose of broken pots and bits and pieces, and these are the very things that help us understand more about the lives of people in the friary and the town at this time,” said Dr Denis Shine of IAFS.
He added that during the dig, participants will be trained in digging techniques and in artefact recording by qualified archaeologists – so no previous experience is necessary.
Spaces are limited to 10 per day and participants must commit to at least a full day. Children aged from 12-17 who are interested in digging must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of their participation and unfortunately no under 12’s can be accommodated on this occasion,
There are lots of tasks other than digging to be completed also such as washing finds and samples, photography, entering data into spreadsheets etc.
All enquiries and bookings can be made through denis.shine@iafs.ie.