Community Archaeology East Midlands
A Fantastic Gift for a Friend!!
Have you, or someone you know, always wanted to have a go at Archaeology?
Experience Digging Days
(at the King John’s Palace Excavation in Sherwood Forest)
£75 per person per day,
or a full week for £300 (Monday 20th to Friday 24th April).
2026 dates:
April :
Saturday 18th
Week Days: 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th
Saturday 25th
May:
Saturday 9th
October:
Saturday 10th
Saturday 17th
“I would thoroughly recommend Mercian, to anyone wishing to have a taster session, extend their previous experiences of Archaeology, or gain new qualifications…” - Barbara, Experience Day, 2021.
What to Expect on your experience:
Expect to have a great time, which is full of fun and learning!
Our aim is to introduce you to archaeology, and either fulfil a life's ambition, or inspire a life long love!
Itinerary:
The day commences at 9:30, with Welcome, introductions, and paperwork.
After the introduction you will be taken on a site tour of King John’s Palace, and learn all about the history, site and landscape, as well as all about Sherwood Forest and the Kings who stayed here.
This is followed by a finds induction- learn all about archaeological artefacts, handle finds from all periods including flint tools, coins. Metalwork, glass and ceramics. Learn how to identify and collect artefacts as you uncover them when you dig, and our process for collecting and retaining them.
After this you will have a tool box talk and be shown how to dig. Then the chance to excavate on a real archaeological excavation for the rest of the day!
The day finishes between 16:30 and 17:00.
If you book multiple days or a full week you will dig on all subsequent days without undertaking the introductions, inductions and tours again. Unless you want to!
You, or your loved one, will be excavating at the site of King John’s Palace, you will be involved in an archaeological excavation which will form a part of this long-term research project in the heart of the Forest.
King John’s Palace, Kings Clipstone, Sherwood Forest.
Come and excavate at the site of the legendary King John’s Palace in Sherwood Forest…
King John’s Palace was once the Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest.
The Palace was visited by all 8 kings from Henry II to Richard II, with King John possibly holding parliament there in the early 13th century and Edward I holding Parliament there in 1290.
This project forms part of a long running research project designed to understand the extent of the medieval palace, and surrounding area.
So why not come along yourself or buy a great gift for a friend or family member and become part of the history of the Medieval Royal Palace at the heart of Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest!
King John’s Palace in Sherwood Forest. MAP.
Is someone you know celebrating a birthday, retirement, or other event? Or do you want to buy a Christmas present for someone special?
Have you, or someone you know, always wanted to have a go at Archaeology? Have you/they, always wanted to experience the excitement and thrill of digging up artefacts from the past, and connecting with the events and people of times long gone?
Well now you/they can, under the supervision of Archaeologists from Mercian Archaeological Services CIC.
This is the perfect way to fulfil a life’s ambition and perhaps take the first steps on a fantastic journey into re-discovering people, objects, and places from the past…
GIFT Bookings and e-gift cards:
If you are booking for a friend or family member please book as normal using the payment methods below.
We will confirm your booking via email and ask whether or not the booking is a gift, and also ask you to send us a message to personalise your e-gift card.
We can keep our booking secret for you and everything will be done confidentially until you are ready to tell the person.
Gift bookings will receive the standard e-gift card as seen on the left.
Bookings for Christmas Presents will receive the Christmas style e-gift card, shown to the right.
When we email you, please let us know if this a Christmas gift booking.
Please note these are e-gift cards, sent electronically in digital format for you to print out yourself or send via email.
BOOK a FULL week
for £300!
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Wesdnesday 22nd April 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Friday 24th April 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Full Week 20th - 24th April 2026
£300. Monday to Friday
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Saturday 18th April 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Monday 20th April 2026
Price: £75
Experience Geophysical Survey Days
(Welby Deserted Medieval Village,
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire).
2026 dates to be announced
£75 per person per day,
or a full week for £300 (Monday to Friday).
Archaeological Geophysics uses a range of instruments and techniques to detect and map variations below the ground surface. These can be interpreted by archaeologists and effectively enable the experienced practitioner to ‘see’ possible archaeological features under the ground.
On this experience you will learn about the different techniques of Geophysical survey undertaken in archaeology, and will also have the chance to undertake Ground Penetrating Radar survey at the site of a Deserted Medieval village, at Welby in Leicestershire.
This fantastic opportunity will include a mixture of taught theory, and field-based hands-on practical learning and involvement.
Over the course of the session you will undertake the survey work, lay out grids, record grid locations, and collect real geophysical data in the field.
On the day:
- Introduction to geophysics in archaeology presentation,
- Laying out grids for surveying (theory, then in the field)
- Ground Penetrating Radar survey,
- Recording the location of grids,
The survey will take place at Welby Deserted Medieval Village, in rural Leicestershire, just outside Melton Mowbray.
As well as forming part of long-term research into the deserted village, the survey also aims to locate and explore the location of the missing 17th century manor house of Welby, and its possibly medieval predecessor…
Yo can be part of that search!
Use the booking options below
As well as offering the best archaeological experience opportunity, the geophysical survey training can be used as part of the Archaeological Skills Passport programme.
OR BOOK All week
for £300!
(Monday - Friday)
Experience Geophysics
Full Week 23rd - 27th March 2026
£300, Monday to Friday
Experience Geophysics Day
Monday 23rd March 2026
Price: £75
Experience Geophysics Day
Tuesday 24th March 2026
Price: £75
Experience Geophysics Day
Wesdnesday 25th March 2026
Price: £75
Experience Geophysics Day
Thursday 26th March 2026
Price: £75
Experience Geophysics Day
Friday 27th March 2026
Price: £75
Community Archaeology in Derbyshire
Community Archaeology in Leicestershire
Community Archaeology Nottinghamshire, Excavation, Research, Volunteering, Community Archaeology Derbyshire, Training, Social, Learning, Community Archaeology Leicestershire, Heritage, Involvement, Belonging, Knowledge sharing, Community Archaeology Lincolnshire, Topographic Survey, Talks and Presentations, Outreach, Archaeology Projects , Open Days, Schools, Finds Processing, Day Schools, Field Schools, Young People, Archaeology and History of Sherwood Forest, Pottery Research, Medieval, Roman, Prehistoric, Community Interest Company, Community Archaeology Nottinghamshire.
Community Archaeology in Nottinghamshire
Community Archaeology in Lincolnshire
Community Archaeology in Yorkshire
Mercian Archaeological Services CIC
Specialists in Community Archaeology, Public Involvement, Research & Training
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Community Archaeology Nottinghamshire, Community Archaeology Derbyshire, Community Archaeology Leicestershire, Community Archaeology East Midlands, Mercian Archaeological Services Community Archaeology for Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Sherwood Forest, Leicestershire and the East Midlands. Community Archaeology Nottinghamshire, Community Archaeology East Midlands, Community Archaeology Leicestershire. Archaeological
Archaeological Experience Days
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Saturday 25th April 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Saturday 9th May 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Saturday 10th October 2026
Price: £75
Excavation at King John’s Palace
Saturday 17th October 2026
Price: £75
*Weekdays*
Book them individually or combine them together as a week long dig…
The Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest