Vindolanda Excavations

Volunteering on the excavations Vindolanda

The Vindolanda Trust has been accepting volunteers on to its excavations since its foundation in 1970. From then to now, over 8000 people have benefitted from this challenging experience. There are two ways you can volunteer on the Vindolanda excavations: you can either join our excavation team, getting down and dirty in the trenches, or our post-excavation team, handling and sorting through the many materials recovered each day.

The Vindolanda Trust recognises the substantial contribution of its volunteers to our understanding of the site, and therefore Roman Britain as a whole. We are committed to the view that volunteers should continue to have the opportunity to share in the experience of working on one of the most exciting archaeologically sites in Western Europe, and part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site.

How To Get Involved

Participation is a minimum of one period, which consists in two consecutive weeks. Volunteers can be accepted for a maximum of two periods (4 weeks) in the season. The two periods do not have to be consecutive, but each period of two weeks should be uninterrupted so you can enjoy the best possible experience.

The excavation places go on a first come, first served basis: it is recommended that you apply as soon as it is convenient once the programme details are announced. The applications will go live on this website at the beginning of November for the following years excavations and post-excavations.

What_we_provide.pdf

Packing_list.pdf

Information about the SMC

Whats involved when excavating

Latest

Militaria Exhibition

1st April - 31st October 2020
A temporary exhibition at the Roman Army Museum showing an assembly of militiary artefacts never seen in pulbic which are on private loan to the Vindolanda Trust.
Vindolanda Via Roma

Andrew and Gary are raising money for Revealing Magna. They are riding their vespas across Europe along the routes many Roman postmen would have journeyed down. They are taking action to protect and research Magna Roman fort. You can help them reach their goal.
Revealing Magna

You can support the research and conservation of Magna Roman fort. The Vindolanda Trust are looking to prevent further damage by changing climates and reveal the history of this amazing fort which has the same levels of preservation as Vindolanda.
Vindolanda's top 10 finds of the decade

2010 to 2019 has been an exceptional period of discoveries at Roman Vindolanda and Dr Andrew Birley has listed his personal top 10.

Severan Skulls

Dr Trudi Buck takes a closer look at the human skull unearthed during the 2018 excavation of the Severan fort ditch at Vindolanda.
Ancient timber posts

Both visitors and volunteers have been very curious as to what those beautiful timber posts sticking out of the ground are. Here is what the archaeologists have concluded so far.
Tickets
Roman Vindolanda Fort & Museum

Visit Roman Vindolanda today and you will find one of the North East’s most famous and not to be missed tourist attractions lying in the beautiful landscape of Hadrian's Wall Country. Formerly a key military post on the northern frontier of Britain, Vindolanda is the home of Britain's 'Top Treasure' - the Vindolanda Writing Tablets - and is one Europe's most important Roman archaeological sites, with live excavations taking place every year.
Roman Army Museum

Lying in magnificent countryside next to a sweeping section of Hadrian's Wall and based at the site of Carvoran Roman Fort, the Roman Army Museum is an authentic and dramatic tribute to Rome’s extraordinary military legacy. Step into the life of a Roman soldier and experience life on the front line of Emperor Hadrian’s formidable British frontier.
Getting here

How to find us no matter how you like to travel.
Opening Times

Seasonal opening times for Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum.
Playing games at Vindolanda

Guest blog written by our visiting specialist from Edinburgh University.
Severan Feline Friends

Interaction between cats and humans goes back as far as Ancient Egypt. However, some of our earliest clues to domestic cats in Britain come from the Roman period.
Hadrian's Wall

At Vindolanda Fort and the Roman Army Museum you are already having the ultimate 'Edge of Empire' experience on Hadrian's Wall but if you want more then there is a stunning string of forts, milecastles and turrets stretching 80 Roman miles (73 of our miles!) from East to West, coast to coast.