SEDGEFORD HISTORICAL  AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROJECT

F.A.Q. SUMMER SEASON

2007 Prospectus

Please read the following carefully before emailing enquiries

How do I get involved with SHARP?
SHARP runs an excavation season during the summer  which a wide range of volunteers and students are welcome to attend. The excavation is open to over 16's from any background regardless of academic or professional experience. If you wish to dig on site you will need to attend our BASIC EXCAVATION AND RECORDING TECHNIQUES course if you do not have at least three weeks relevant experience elsewhere (this must have included trowelling and other excavation techniques). Other archaeological activities are also available to those unable to be on the excavation site for long periods of time.
SHARP is an open excavation and we are happy to take students and volunteers from all around the world. Although the team are all English speaking, we have done our best to help those with less command of our native tongue join in to the full. In the summer we are often home to people from Canada and the USA, Australia, France, Spain, Holland and other countries. Age is also no barrier and we welcome young adults through to retired people.
You do not have to be a registered student to attend our courses, most are taken for enjoyment and extended learning by people with from huge variety of day jobs!

What are the dates for 2007?
The summer excavation season is over 6 weeks starting 8th July and ending 17th August 2007. There are no other excavation dates during the year.

What can I join in with?
You can come along as a volunteer and join our excavation team as a digger (experience permitting as above) as well as excavating this may include activities such as surveying, planning and drawing . You can also help our supervisors in other important tasks such as finds processing, environmental sorting, washing and cleaning human bones. These activities all take place on or near our excavation areas. There may also be an opportunity to help with post-excavational work such as finds cataloguing and data entry.

Are there any formal courses?
We run a number of courses, some of which are accredited by the University of East Anglia (10 credits towards a Certificate in Practical Archaeology). Courses change from year to year, for 2007 we are running the following courses: 
BASIC EXCAVATION AND RECORDING TECHNIQUES 
ARCHAEOLOGY OF HUMAN REMAINS 1: INTRODUCTORY
FURTHER STUDIES OF HUMAN REMAINS
ARTEFACTS AND ECOFACTS: POST-EXCAVATION ANALYSIS IN CONTEXT
RESEARCHING ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS
INVESTIGATING ARCHAEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES - NEW FOR 2007

We also run a number of 1 day courses on a variety of archaeological and related topics.

What experience do I need?
You may join in with SHARP's work with little of no formal training or experience. However to excavate on site you must EITHER have three weeks relevant experience (of excavation and associated tasks) OR complete our BASIC EXCAVATION AND RECORDING TECHNIQUES course BEFORE digging as a volunteer.

No prior experience is needed or assumed for our introductory or day courses. Courses which do require prior experience are specified as such in our full prospectus.

I am an archaeological student at a UK university, what benefit can SHARP give me?
Many students attend SHARP as part of their required number of weeks excavation. This must obviously be agreed with your own tutors prior to coming to SHARP. A certificate of attendance will be given for all 6-day courses. If you require a certificate of attendance or report for non-course activities, please bring the appropriate paper work with you, do not send by post. It must remain your own responsibility to have the forms signed and returned to your University tutor.  Paperwork cannot be completed after you have left the site. Some of our 6-day courses are also accredited by the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of East Anglia, due to the workload involved places are limited for each course.

What are the working days and times?
Each working week is 6 days long, Sunday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm. Unfortunately we can not accept part week / day attendance (except for day courses) and you will be expected to join in our work within all the specified times.
There is no work on Saturday, which is our arrivals day. Please arrive in good time to erect your tent (if applicable). Transport may be provided to and from King's Lynn train station (please ask for advise on this). All new volunteers and students are invited to attend a site talk and short tour on Saturday evening as an introduction to the project.

How long can I stay?
The minimum is 1 week, the maximum all 6. Many of our course attendees find that two weeks minimum is a bonus as they can spend a week consolidating their taught experience. This is by no means compulsorily but can be beneficial to students and the SHARP team alike. Places permitting you may stay longer than originally signed up for, just check with our enrolment secretary. (We have had volunteers come for 1 week and stay for all 6!).

Where do I Stay?
Most of our volunteers and students (and supervisors) camp. The campsite is situated immediately next to our main excavation trenches. You will need to provide all your own camping facilities (tent, sleeping bag etc).

Other people choose to stay in local bed and breakfast or self-catering accommodating. This area of North-West Norfolk is very popular at this time of year and it is advisable to book up as soon as possible.

There is a charge for ALL participants of SHARP. Details below.

What facilities are available?
We provide shower and toilet facilities which are situated down a track near to the main site (about 3-4 minutes walk). These facilities serve all the excavation and camp sites. In addition to this there is a cold water supply on the main site for drinking water and hand washing.
There is a village post-office and small shop within a ten minute walk of the site, the nearest laundrette is in Hunstanton (2 miles). 
Our HQ is a building in the main village, here we have a washing machine and tumble dryer although these are for supervisors and those staying for a number of weeks (there is a small charge). The project telephone is also situated here and can be used in emergencies. There is a public telephone within the village for calling home. We are unable to offer email services except in exceptional circumstances.

Are disabled facilities provided?
Of course we do not exclude disabled people, however the nature of the site means that it is generally unsuitable for people in wheel chairs. All disabled attendees and day visitors must contact us first to assess suitability.  This may depend on a number of factors including the weather, which unfortunately we cannot control. We are very sorry if this means you are unable to join us. 
Please note that we must ask that all disabled persons are accompanied by an able bodied companion.

Are meals provided?
Meals are provided on work days only (NOT Saturday) All meals are provided for those camping onsite. This includes breakfast, lunch and early evening meal. Tea and coffee are also provided at designated breaks. Persons not staying on site are entitled to lunch & tea breaks only, however evening meals may be purchased separately - please advise us before you arrive. Snacks (chocolate, cola, crisps) may be purchased at tea breaks. Eating utensils will be provided, however please bring your own cup or mug.
Although there are no catered meals on Saturday, we provide an evening barbecue which is immediately after the introductory talk and tour for all new volunteers.

How do I get to SHARP?
Full details will be sent with your joining details. Please note the Village of Sedgeford is a 15-20 minute drive from the nearest train station (King's Lynn). Buses are infrequent and take longer, please check appropriate timetables before travelling. It may be possible to arrange transport from the station but this will be limited to a set time of day on Saturdays.

Is parking available?
There is parking for vehicles at the top of the slope on which our campsite is situated. However parking is limited and is not suitable for very large vehicles (camper vans or caravans). Alternative parking may be available near the toilet facilities, however this is not guaranteed from year to year. If you are bringing a vehicle and need constant access to it, please let us know before arrival (many people park up for the full week). Please note SHARP cannot accept any responsibility for any vehicles or other personal items. 

What are the costs?
PLEASE SEE OUR FEES PAGE FOR CURRENT FACILITIES AND COURSE FEES

How do I pay?
Payment is by cheque drawn on a British Bank. If you need to pay from another country please contact us and we will advise you. We are unable to accept credit card payments. No payments are accepted online. A £35 deposit is required at the time of booking. Please include an A4 SAE with all applications.

Is funding available?
We are a charity and hence unfortunately we are not able to offer funding or assistance with payment in any way. 

For University of East Anglia accredited courses only, help with fees may be available for students experiencing financial hardship, if you would like to find out more please contact Penny Joy on 
01603 592802 (do not contact SHARP directly).

Can I pay my way by doing other work? 
No. There is no opportunity to partake in paid non-archaeological work (i.e. catering). We cannot provide places free of charge
All attendees MUST pay for facilities and meals (as appropriate). Please do not enquire about paid work or attending free of charge. 

What is the social life like?
SHARP is a very friendly project to join in with. We have a large marquee for meals and meetings where you can also sit and while the evening away. We have weekly events such as lectures, games evenings and site tours and a party every Friday night. So that the campsite is reasonable quite there is a curfew every evening, however we appreciate some night owls may like to socialise longer and provide an off-site area for those staying up later. The local pub is only a few minutes walk away, further a field (you will need transport) are the towns of Hunstanton and King's Lynn with all the usual facilities.

Communal Duties
The site is run by a number of volunteer supervisors. However to ensure the smooth running of the site and to maximise supervisor time in archaeological work, EVERYONE is expected to help with keeping the site and facilities clean and tidy. Washing up is done by the catering team, however the campsite, marquee and toilet/shower block and track must be kept litter free and in a tidy state by ALL who use them. 

Where can I get more information?
When we receive your application form we will send you a document outlining all the important information you need to know. This will include: How to get to SHARP; what to bring (essential and recommended); A fuller description of our daily/weekly timetables and routines; expected responsibilities of all participants; health and safety; contact information.