Public help with archaeological dig of 18th Century Salford

Thursday 6 August 2015

MEMBERS of the public are invited to play their part in unearthing some unique history from 18th and 19th century Salford.

People of all ages can join in a public archaeological dig at Buile Hill Park during September and October after being invited by experts at the Centre for Applied Archaeology at the University of Salford.

Buile Hill Park is the final excavation of the Dig Greater Manchester project and hopes to reveal more secrets of the now-vanished mansion house, an earlier late 18th century manor and a 17th century farm.

The dig will run from the 7th September through to the 9th October and is open to anybody over the age of 16, with children’s day* on Saturdays.

A prior dig on the site uncovered a wealth of archaeological material relating to the people who lived and worked in Hart Hill House including domestic cups, bowls, plates, jugs, bottles, animal bones, glassware, clay tobacco pipes and ceramic floor and fireplace tiles.

The forthcoming dig is searching particularly for surviving remains associated with the earlier Hart Hill estates.

Fire imagination

Vicky Nash, Senior Archaeologist at the University of Salford, said: “Being able to get your hands on with history is something special which really brings the past back to life in a way books and television never could.

“Volunteers are able to physically interact with history by walking around the remains of the rooms and handling objects lost or thrown away by the people who lived and worked in the mansion.

“Dig Greater Manchester is a fantastic project which stimulates the imagination and gives local people us a better understanding of what life was like in their community 100 or 200 years ago.”

No previous experience is necessary as organisers will provide training onsite. You can also follow the Dig Diary on our Facebook page (Centre for Applied Archaeology).

The team will also hold a public open day on Saturday 10th October 2015 ( 10am to 4pm) to showcase the results of the dig.

Volunteers can book now by contacting Penny Dargan-Makin at: p.r.d.dargan-makin@salford.ac.uk.

About Dig Greater Manchester

One of the largest community archaeology projects in the UK, the five-year Dig Greater Manchester project aims to provide places for than 6000 school children and more than 1000 adult volunteers investigating eleven sites in Greater Manchester, Blackburn and Darwen. It is one of only a few projects across the country which provides access to archaeological excavations, skills workshops and heritage talks free of charge. The project provides people from the Greater Manchester area with the opportunity to get involved with their own heritage, in a variety of ways regardless of age and ability and to meet new people with similar interests.

The project has coordinated 11 sites digs across Greater Manchester. The two most popular have been progressed. These are: Close Park Radcliffe and Buile Hill Park, Salford.

The project is funded by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) and run by the Centre for Applied Archaeology, University of Salford (CfAA) in conjunction with Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Service (GMAAS). @Archaeology_UoS

Picture: Volunteers Darren Bentham (left) and Peter Beck.

For more information, please contact:

Gareth Hollyman, Press Officer (Science) | The University of Salford

t: +44 (0) 161 295 6895

g.b.hollyman@salford.ac.uk | www.salford.ac.uk

@gareth_hollyman

Vicky Nash

Senior Archaeologist | Centre for Applied Archaeology

LG25B, Peel Building, Peel Park Campus, University of Salford, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU.

t: +44 (0) 161 295 4009

v.nash@salford.ac.uk | www.salford.ac.uk