National Museums Liverpool are encouraging people to get involved with their archaeological digging group at their Piermaster's Green community dig site.
They're calling for volunteers over 18 and those aged 16-24 for their Emerging Archaeologists group. Their dig began last year on the Piermaster's House but will open two new trenches for the groups to learn from and explore.
The project investigates four houses, built in 1852, which stood at Albert Dock, one of which, the Piermaster's House, remains standing. These were homes of dock masters and their families before being damaged during the Liverpool Blitz of World War Two.
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Regional and community archaeology curator Vanessa Oakden told the ECHO : "We’ll be teaching a number of skills in a hands-on informal way including how to trowel, understanding archaeology, finds processing and archaeological photography. Our Emerging Archaeologists group for those aged 16-24 is to gain experience through workshops and projects”.
The young people will get to join the Piermaster’s Green excavation. This is also free for volunteers to sign up to as part of the Museum of Liverpool’s community archaeology work.
The Piermaster’s site, digging is most Tuesdays to Fridays 10am – 3pm from May 17 to July 15 and takes place behind the Piermaster's House at the Royal Albert Dock. These residences were built six years after the opening of the Royal Albert Dock in 1846.
NML particularly wants to encourage black and other minority communities to join the project. Vanessa said: "People from diverse backgrounds are under-represented in archaeology in Merseyside and also across the UK and we need to do better. Archaeology is for everyone and everyone should have an opportunity to get involved and, including people who can bring a variety of perspectives is important”.
A 2013 report for the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (by Lanward Research Ltd) found 1% of the respondents described themselves as non-white. At the time there were over 6,000 people employed in the archaeology sector in the UK.
Vanessa said: "Our community excavations are open to over 18s from all backgrounds and abilities. For those who don’t want to dig but would like to find out more we’ll have a finds table set up at the site and our archaeologists and volunteers will be happy to chat about what we’re finding”.
Vanessa added: "Archaeology is about learning about the lives of people in the past so every excavation provides exciting opportunities to learn more, gain new skills and share experiences. I became interested in archaeology as a child growing up in Ireland where I was taken to the National Museum in school holidays.
“When on holiday, we jumped out of the car to have a look at some standing stones or an old church. There was always something to explore and I’ve not stopped”.
Volunteers from last year's dig said: "It's liberating, like being a child again playing in the dirt." Another said: "I’m realising a life ambition doing this, it’s great."
Excavations of a section of Number 8 Albert Parade, one of the two original Dockmaster’s Houses, uncovered the back wall of the house with a coal chute down into a rubble-filled cellar, as well as three surfaces in the yard. Finds included clay tobacco pipes, pottery, a decorated door tile and even some moulded plaster and much more.
To sign up for the dig email: Vanessa.Oakden@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk and to sign up for the Emerging Archaeologists group: emergingarchaeologists@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
