National Trust Archaeology
@nattrustarch.bsky.social
Sharing information about archaeology at National Trust places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
"This proved be a rich mixture of animal bones, oyster shells and broken pottery of all sorts, and to the archaeologist this sort of rubbish is the most valuable ‘treasure’, telling us so much about aristocratic feasts and the working lives of people who prepared them."
January 23, 2026 at 10:05 AM
"This proved be a rich mixture of animal bones, oyster shells and broken pottery of all sorts, and to the archaeologist this sort of rubbish is the most valuable ‘treasure’, telling us so much about aristocratic feasts and the working lives of people who prepared them."
"Towards the end of the excavation, after digging down through a metre of heavy clay at last we struck the edge of the moat.
We were lucky that in this particular spot Tudor cooks had dumped rubbish from the kitchens."
We were lucky that in this particular spot Tudor cooks had dumped rubbish from the kitchens."
January 23, 2026 at 10:05 AM
"Towards the end of the excavation, after digging down through a metre of heavy clay at last we struck the edge of the moat.
We were lucky that in this particular spot Tudor cooks had dumped rubbish from the kitchens."
We were lucky that in this particular spot Tudor cooks had dumped rubbish from the kitchens."
"The old house and moat appear on a 17th century map but, due to inaccuracies in the map, we couldn’t work out its location.
Our dig aimed to search for this house and moat and look for evidence of the gardens which went with the earliest phase of the current house around the time of Charles I."
Our dig aimed to search for this house and moat and look for evidence of the gardens which went with the earliest phase of the current house around the time of Charles I."
January 23, 2026 at 10:05 AM
"The old house and moat appear on a 17th century map but, due to inaccuracies in the map, we couldn’t work out its location.
Our dig aimed to search for this house and moat and look for evidence of the gardens which went with the earliest phase of the current house around the time of Charles I."
Our dig aimed to search for this house and moat and look for evidence of the gardens which went with the earliest phase of the current house around the time of Charles I."
We're continuing our look back at 2025 discoveries and fieldwork, with a revisit to the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire, where last September an enthusiastic team of volunteers were led by archaeologists from @oxfordarchaeology.bsky.social. 🧵
January 23, 2026 at 10:05 AM
We're continuing our look back at 2025 discoveries and fieldwork, with a revisit to the Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire, where last September an enthusiastic team of volunteers were led by archaeologists from @oxfordarchaeology.bsky.social. 🧵
✨ An Evening with National Trust Archaeologists ✨
Ever wondered what archaeology looks like behind the scenes at National Trust places?
Join the CBA for a free online evening exploring the archaeology cared for by National Trust, including community digs, hilltop enclosures and Roman gold mining.
Ever wondered what archaeology looks like behind the scenes at National Trust places?
Join the CBA for a free online evening exploring the archaeology cared for by National Trust, including community digs, hilltop enclosures and Roman gold mining.
January 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM
✨ An Evening with National Trust Archaeologists ✨
Ever wondered what archaeology looks like behind the scenes at National Trust places?
Join the CBA for a free online evening exploring the archaeology cared for by National Trust, including community digs, hilltop enclosures and Roman gold mining.
Ever wondered what archaeology looks like behind the scenes at National Trust places?
Join the CBA for a free online evening exploring the archaeology cared for by National Trust, including community digs, hilltop enclosures and Roman gold mining.
A look back on the dig at #Bodiam during August 2025: our team of over 140 volunteers found evidence for #Roman & #medieval activity across the landscape. Our final season of excavations at the site is this summer - watch this space!
#Bodiam100 @nationaltrust.org.uk 🏺
📷Alfie Lindsay & Jane Sidell
#Bodiam100 @nationaltrust.org.uk 🏺
📷Alfie Lindsay & Jane Sidell
January 21, 2026 at 9:47 AM
A look back on the dig at #Bodiam during August 2025: our team of over 140 volunteers found evidence for #Roman & #medieval activity across the landscape. Our final season of excavations at the site is this summer - watch this space!
#Bodiam100 @nationaltrust.org.uk 🏺
📷Alfie Lindsay & Jane Sidell
#Bodiam100 @nationaltrust.org.uk 🏺
📷Alfie Lindsay & Jane Sidell
🏠 The search for Isaac Newton’s mother’s house at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire – which is featured in the latest series of #DiggingforBritain on BBC Two.
January 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM
🏠 The search for Isaac Newton’s mother’s house at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire – which is featured in the latest series of #DiggingforBritain on BBC Two.
Excavations at Prior Park in Bath by NT Heritage and Archaeology Ranger Team (HART) volunteers and the Bath and Counties Archaeological Society. They aimed to uncover more of Ralph Allen’s early garden and the Bason pool.
January 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Excavations at Prior Park in Bath by NT Heritage and Archaeology Ranger Team (HART) volunteers and the Bath and Counties Archaeological Society. They aimed to uncover more of Ralph Allen’s early garden and the Bason pool.
🏺 The Highdown Big Dig, a partnership between the National Trust, Worthing Archaeological Society, Worthing Theatres and Museum and The Headley Trust, which explored a site which includes a Bronze Age enclosure, Iron Age hillfort and early Medieval cemetery.
January 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM
🏺 The Highdown Big Dig, a partnership between the National Trust, Worthing Archaeological Society, Worthing Theatres and Museum and The Headley Trust, which explored a site which includes a Bronze Age enclosure, Iron Age hillfort and early Medieval cemetery.
Last July provided us with a wealth of opportunities to learn more about the places in the care of the National Trust as part of the Festival of Archaeology including:
🔍 Ground penetrating radar surveys at Dunster Castle in Somerset, in search of remains of the Norman motte and bailey castle
🔍 Ground penetrating radar surveys at Dunster Castle in Somerset, in search of remains of the Norman motte and bailey castle
January 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Last July provided us with a wealth of opportunities to learn more about the places in the care of the National Trust as part of the Festival of Archaeology including:
🔍 Ground penetrating radar surveys at Dunster Castle in Somerset, in search of remains of the Norman motte and bailey castle
🔍 Ground penetrating radar surveys at Dunster Castle in Somerset, in search of remains of the Norman motte and bailey castle
"I can’t tell you about this year’s discoveries because Time Team will be revealing them on a YouTube video later in the spring, but what I can say is that the Garden Field cemetery trenches discovered more Anglo-Saxon burials."
January 16, 2026 at 2:39 PM
"I can’t tell you about this year’s discoveries because Time Team will be revealing them on a YouTube video later in the spring, but what I can say is that the Garden Field cemetery trenches discovered more Anglo-Saxon burials."
"Down in Riverview Field a team of volunteers, led by Carenza Lewis, dug more sample test pits to explore prehistoric and more modern Sutton Hoo; amongst the test pits, we dug a larger trench to explore a possible Medieval dock."
January 16, 2026 at 2:39 PM
"Down in Riverview Field a team of volunteers, led by Carenza Lewis, dug more sample test pits to explore prehistoric and more modern Sutton Hoo; amongst the test pits, we dug a larger trench to explore a possible Medieval dock."
East of England NT archaeologist Angus, says: “We took a three-pronged approach to build on the results in 2024. The main focus was another two trenches aimed at the Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Garden Field. This is where an exotic decorative brass vessel was found in the 1980s."
January 16, 2026 at 2:39 PM
East of England NT archaeologist Angus, says: “We took a three-pronged approach to build on the results in 2024. The main focus was another two trenches aimed at the Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Garden Field. This is where an exotic decorative brass vessel was found in the 1980s."
Last June, @timeteam.bsky.social returned to Garden Field at Sutton Hoo to continue Phase 2 of their research project to find out more about the archaeology of the Suffolk site, which is famous for the ship burial discovered there in 1939. 🧵
January 16, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Last June, @timeteam.bsky.social returned to Garden Field at Sutton Hoo to continue Phase 2 of their research project to find out more about the archaeology of the Suffolk site, which is famous for the ship burial discovered there in 1939. 🧵
There was evidence of robbed-out walls, and floor surfaces, and three test pits located to the south of the Chapel also identified cobbled floors as well as some interesting finds, like a probable Roman-British melon bead.
@uoearchhist.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
@uoearchhist.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
January 14, 2026 at 12:22 PM
There was evidence of robbed-out walls, and floor surfaces, and three test pits located to the south of the Chapel also identified cobbled floors as well as some interesting finds, like a probable Roman-British melon bead.
@uoearchhist.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
@uoearchhist.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
The 2025 trenches produced some interesting features and finds. On the site of the Elizabethan manor house, more of the structure was revealed with finds of high-status imported ceramics and lots of finely moulded ceiling or wall plaster.
January 14, 2026 at 12:22 PM
The 2025 trenches produced some interesting features and finds. On the site of the Elizabethan manor house, more of the structure was revealed with finds of high-status imported ceramics and lots of finely moulded ceiling or wall plaster.
After discovering floor surfaces, wall foundations and some interesting finds in 2024, the team were back to find out more about the layout of the manor, and also investigate the surrounding landscape, in search of prehistoric activity.
January 14, 2026 at 12:22 PM
After discovering floor surfaces, wall foundations and some interesting finds in 2024, the team were back to find out more about the layout of the manor, and also investigate the surrounding landscape, in search of prehistoric activity.
Last May saw the University of Exeter’s Archaeology Field School return to the Killerton Estate in Devon to continue investigations into the search for the lost Elizabethan manor at Columbjohn, with support from Killerton’s HART team and NT Archaeologist, Cat Lodge. 🧵
January 14, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Last May saw the University of Exeter’s Archaeology Field School return to the Killerton Estate in Devon to continue investigations into the search for the lost Elizabethan manor at Columbjohn, with support from Killerton’s HART team and NT Archaeologist, Cat Lodge. 🧵
This focused on applying the vast range of skills that archaeologists possess to address the real-world challenges for a nature and climate positive future, and included an example of a landscape-scale nature recovery project under way at the Holnicote Estate in Somerset.
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM
This focused on applying the vast range of skills that archaeologists possess to address the real-world challenges for a nature and climate positive future, and included an example of a landscape-scale nature recovery project under way at the Holnicote Estate in Somerset.
Senior National Archaeologist Hannah Fluck co-delivered a session on the DCMS Culture and Heritage Capital Initiative, with support from Callum Reilly (University of York). The session focused on heritage value, including its contribution to welfare, sustainable growth and living standards.
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Senior National Archaeologist Hannah Fluck co-delivered a session on the DCMS Culture and Heritage Capital Initiative, with support from Callum Reilly (University of York). The session focused on heritage value, including its contribution to welfare, sustainable growth and living standards.
Last April, we were flying the flag for the National Trust as we shared some of the exciting collaborations we're engaged with at the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Conference.
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Last April, we were flying the flag for the National Trust as we shared some of the exciting collaborations we're engaged with at the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Conference.
Flagstones was discovered in the 1980s during the construction of the Dorchester bypass, with excavations revealing it was formed of a 100m diameter circular ditch made of intersecting pits, probably an earthwork bank.
January 9, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Flagstones was discovered in the 1980s during the construction of the Dorchester bypass, with excavations revealing it was formed of a 100m diameter circular ditch made of intersecting pits, probably an earthwork bank.
The monument, located near Dorchester, has been redated to about 3,200 years BC – approximately two centuries earlier than previously thought – thanks to advanced radiocarbon analysis of some of the finds discovered there, including human remains, red deer antlers and charcoal.
January 9, 2026 at 10:43 AM
The monument, located near Dorchester, has been redated to about 3,200 years BC – approximately two centuries earlier than previously thought – thanks to advanced radiocarbon analysis of some of the finds discovered there, including human remains, red deer antlers and charcoal.
Continuing with our round up of discoveries and projects in 2025, we're heading back to March, and the announcement that Flagstones in Dorset was found to be older than Stonehenge. 🧵
January 9, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Continuing with our round up of discoveries and projects in 2025, we're heading back to March, and the announcement that Flagstones in Dorset was found to be older than Stonehenge. 🧵
It's believed these may be domestic or farm buildings used by the original mansion which was constructed in the early 18th century, and it's possible they were demolished when the existing house was built.
January 8, 2026 at 10:01 AM
It's believed these may be domestic or farm buildings used by the original mansion which was constructed in the early 18th century, and it's possible they were demolished when the existing house was built.