Vindolanda Excavations

COVID-19 Update for 2021 Excavation Volunteers  (4th March 2021)

We are looking forward to starting the 2021 excavations on the 29th of March this year.

The excavation will take place with volunteers who have chosen to defer their places from 2020. Due to the continuing uncertainty around the global pandemic the Trust will not be opening new excavation only applications for the 2021 excavations as they are fully booked by those deferring from 2020.

Below is a list of excavation and post-excavation protocols which the Vindolanda Trust has put into place to help make the experience of volunteering at the site as safe and secure as possible. The protocols will be updated if and when rules change surrounding covid19 secure volunteering environments in 2021.

If you have booked in for periods 1-4, before the current set of covid19 rules are due to be relaxed for certain types of accommodation we will have already reached out to you directly to arrange a meeting with the team. If you are due to join us from period 5 onwards we do not anticipate any barriers for your participation if you are based in the UK.

International volunteers have been contacted about travelling challenges for 2021. 

It is important to check the following information before you make your journey to the site and should you need to please also contact our team directly if you have specific concerns or challenges with fulfilling your placement. 

Thank you,

The Vindolanda Trust

Excavation covid19-secure protocols

• On your first Monday of excavation, an induction talk will be given by a member of the archaeological team. Weather permitting, this will be held outdoors. If this is impossible, the excavation and post-excavation teams will be split into two groups, and have staggered induction talks inside the Robin Birley Archaeological Centre. On your first day, please congregate outdoors, at a safe distance from one another, in front of the Hedley Centre building. A member of the team will be on hand to welcome you from 9:10 to 9:30 when the Induction talk will begin. You will be handed your excavation T-shirt. If you wish to change your T-shirt size for 2021 from the one your ordered in 2020, please let us know before February the 15^th otherwise we will assume that you are the same size as before.
• On your arrival you will be issued with excavation equipment which you will be using for your two weeks on the excavations. You must not share this equipment with others. It is your equipment for the duration. Handles and other touch surfaces on tools and wheelbarrows will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised between excavation periods, and before they are assigned to the next volunteer. You will be excavating at least 2m apart from your nearest colleague. 
• It is important to respect other excavators’ space and to be mindful of how you go from A to B without crossing into others’ personal space.
• When archaeological supervisors interact with you, they will wear a mask if they enter within a two metre space. They may ask you to step out of your space so that they can demonstrate a technique or inspect a trench or book an artefact.
• You are not required to wear your mask while on the excavations and working. You will be separated from the public by a fence and we ask you to always respect the 2m distance with them.
• When interacting with the public, at a distance of 2m, or when taking your wheelbarrow away and passing through unfenced public spaces, you will be asked to put on your mask.

Post-Excavation protocols:

• Weather permitting, outdoor areas to process, wash bone and pottery will be used. 
• Volunteers will be working at 2m apart from your post-excavation colleagues. If you require to be closer than that, you must always wear a mask.
• Once set up and at a workstation, and 2m apart, you may take off your mask.
• You will be required to wear your mask when you are not sitting at your desk in the archaeological centre: e.g., to rinse your tools in the sink, to make yourself a cup of tea.
• If you wish to use them, you will need to bring your own waterproof gloves with you.
• You will be responsible for processing your own pottery and bone. We ask you not to share a bag or context with another member of the team.
• We will ask you to clean the contact surfaces in the Archaeological centre (tables and equipment) with antiseptic wipes after each use. For example, you should wipe down your table and the sink after you have used them and before the excavation volunteers join you for lunch.
• You will be asked to co-ordinate your breaks with the excavation volunteers. This means you will be allocated a time for tea break and lunch.
• Supervisors will request that you wear a mask when they approach to examine your work or offer guidance. They will also wear their masks.

Robin Birley Archaeological Centre protocols:

• Please wear your masks when entering the building.
• You may only remove your mask when seated and at a safe social distance from others, for example once you have settled down for a break or lunch.
• The building has a sanitisation station at the sink next to the main door, please use the hand sanitiser when entering the building.
• You must bring your own water bottle, coffee cup or flask and gloves for excavation.
• You cannot share food, biscuits, or other items with other members of the team.
• No more than 14 people are allowed into the building at once due to covid19 restrictions on its capacity. For this reason, the archaeological team will be split into two groups for lunch and tea breaks

The measures are in place to protect you. We will remind you of them when you join us, and keep them up to date on the website.