Archaeology, University of Bradford

Fieldwork is finished for now but interest is still high 😊

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Did you catch us in the #yorkshirepost today? Lovely story (link in bio), plus a great comment piece about the importance of our #universityofbradford research. Incredible photography by @guzelian_pictures too 😊😊😊 #archaeology #yorkshire #peat

Last day on site!

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And that’s a wrap! 🎉 The final day of the #universityofbradford archaeological excavations on Bridestones Moor. Two weeks, much peat, industrial quantities of cake from the amazing Fairweather Cafe, and a few special things… 👀 More on that soon! Today has been all about finishing the excavation, lots (and lots!) of recording, and finally getting everything backfilled. The digging may be over, but the post-excavation work is only just beginning. Once we’ve had a chance to take our boots off, catch our breath and enjoy some much-needed time off, we’ll be getting stuck into everything that comes next. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far - whether you’ve been digging with us, following along, visiting, or simply cheering us on. Keep watching… there’s plenty more to come! 🏺⛏️🌿 #mesolithic #peat #westyorkshire #archaeology

Penultimate day!

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As the #universityofbradford field project come to a close, we’re turning our attention to not only finishing the excavation but looking beyond the trenches to the wider landscape. And that means… drones! 🚁 Here Joe is holding the DJI Mavic Multispectral drone, which is primarily used to monitor plant health. But drones like this have some really useful archaeological applications too. Plants can reveal what lies beneath the ground. Archaeological features can alter soil moisture and conditions, meaning crops and other vegetation may grow differently over buried ditches, pits and other features. During dry spells, these differences can become particularly visible from above, helping us to spot traces that might otherwise be invisible at ground level. The @visualisingheritage team at the University of Bradford has a wealth of expertise in using this kind of technology to explore and record archaeological landscapes. 🌿📡 #Prehistory #Archaeology #heritagescience #yorkshire

Open Day!

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And 32°C put no one off! ☀️ Another hugely successful Open Day at the Bridestones, with lots of visitors keen to hear the story of this remarkable place and find out why the #UniversityOfBradford team are digging here. We were also treated to a rather special visit from local legendary lithics expert Brian Howcroft, who made the trip to the site. A real highlight to talk with Brian about his 50 years of research into the prehistoric landscapes of Calderdale. And with an eclipse due later, it felt like there was something a little special about being at the Bridestones today. 🌘 #Bridestones #Archaeology #Calderdale #Prehistory

Day 7!

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An absolutely beautiful day on site today ☀️ Work by the #universityofbradford progresses well, and we were also joined by more volunteers and visitors. Artists and poets amongst them, drawn to place and project… More changes to observe, record and sample - and lots more to keep us busy! The extremely talented @bethdooner captured us beautifully - watch this space for a reveal 👀 Don’t forget that tomorrow is our last Open Afternoon - do come if you can 👌 #Art #Fieldwork #CommunityArchaeology #peat

Today’s update!

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Does your dig sound like this though 🪗🙌 What a Monday! 🎶☀️ Music, blue skies, warm sunshine and some very interesting deposits for the #universityofbradford team to figure out. We’re looking forward to the week ahead - don’t forget, we have an Open Afternoon on Wednesday if you fancy coming to see us!

Day 4!

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Unfortunately rain and wind stopped play this afternoon. Spirits were still high but everyone was very wet and very cold… Still, we managed to get the geofizz out and we are looking forward to more surveying tomorrow! Sarah at Fairweather Cafe kept us topped up with much needed hot drinks and toasties - essentials in these conditions… #geophysics #yorkshire #fieldschool

Day 3 😊

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Day 3 of the #UniversityOfBradford Bridestones excavations! And the cold wind and squally showers reminded us that the moors can be challenging - even in the height of summer… Today we welcomed our first volunteer diggers from @bridestonesrewilded and hosted our first open afternoon. There was lots of hard work and enthusiasm, with great questions asked. Here, one of our visitors is holding a clay ball made by one of our students from the deposits we are excavating. 💡 Fun fact: If you can wet a soil sample and roll it into a stable ball, it contains enough fine, cohesive particles (such as clay) to hold together. If it crumbles and refuses to form a ball, the sediment is likely dominated by sand. To round off the day, some of the team made the short walk to touch the trig point before heading home! #archaeology #yorkshire #volunteer

Day 1 on site!