Silchester Field School Logistics

The sixteenth season of work on Insula IX at the Roman town of Silchester will take place between 2 July and 12 August 2012.

The Sichester excavation was a nominee for the Research Project of the Year category of the prestigious Current Archaeology Awards 2012.

The 2012 Field School is now full. If you would like to be added to a waiting list for 2013 please email a.s.clarke@reading.ac.uk

Facilities at the excavation site

At the Silchester Insula IX excavation, we try to provide the best facilities we possibly can given a tight budget and logistical constraints. The excavation has grown remarkably in size since its more humble beginnings in 1997 and we have worked hard to provide adequate facilities to match its continuing growth. What we urge potential participants to remember is that there are limits to what we can provide. The excavation occurs seasonally in a remote field and participants must be prepared - to a certain extent - to 'rough it'. This information sheet is designed to show you exactly what we can provide so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not you wish to camp or whether you wish to commute.

Campsite and Parking

Every year, a camp-site is set up in the adjoining field to the excavation trench. You must bring your own tent and you will be advised where to pitch it in terms of health and safety conditions and general camp orderliness. As you can see from the photograph, we also have a specially designated area for those who have campervans (although we need to be informed if you are bringing a campervan well in advance). There is also an on-site car park for those who bring a car or commute to site every day. This car park is for participants of the excavation only and not for visitors to the site. We provide a large marquee with wooden tables and benches for meals and general gatherings in the evenings. This is set slightly away from the rest of the tents to reduce any noise pollution. To one side of the marquee are the catering facilities. It is the responsibility of all camping participants to give general consideration to their fellow campers and to ensure they keep their area of the camp-site clean and tidy.

Toilets

We provide approximately 40 flushing Portaloos on site and one disabled toilet with ramped access. Usually, half are positioned within the campsite and the other half positioned around the trench itself. Toilet paper is provided and the Portaloos are professionally emptied once every week. The Portaloos are cleaned and checked every morning by two campers on a rota-basis. We endeavour to keep the toilet facilities as clean and as pleasant to use as we possibly can.

Showers and Washing Facilities

There is running water on site but it is not hot water. There are two taps within the campsite where participants can wash their hands (with hand wash provided), brush their teeth and fill up their water bottles. There are also two taps within the excavation area that can also be used for hand washing and drinking. There are two designated places to shower:

• The showers at a facility in Aldermaston located 3 miles away. We will provide transport to these showers on a rota-basis every night. There is an opportunity to have a hot shower at least every other day although if you have your own transport, you can go every night if you wish. It is important to note that at the Aldermaston showers, you will be showering with your (same-sex) team-mates from site so if you wish to preserve your modesty, bring a swimming costume.
• Within the campsite, the supervisors usually build a couple of solar showers. They are somewhat primitive but extremely effective and very popular! Anyone wishing to use the solar showers on site is asked to bring their own 'shower bag'. Solar shower bags can be purchased from any reputable camping store and rarely cost more than £10. They are special bags you fill with water and leave to heat in the sun during the day. Then, in the evening, you hang your bag of warmed water from a hook in the solar shower cubicle and enjoy your shower. For an example of a solar shower search on-line for a gelert solar shower.

Catering

We have catering staff on site who provide breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week. There is no food provided on Fridays (the day off). Breakfast normally consists of cereal or toast with a selection of jams. For lunch, there is a sandwich (with a choice of fillings) accompanied by a selection of fruit, chocolate, yoghurt and crisps. A well balanced hot meal is provided every evening for dinner.

Our catering staff will provide options for vegetarians (not vegans) as long as your dietary requirements have been specified in advance within the application process. We specifically ask about dietary requirements in the Final Arrangements forms.

Tea and coffee is also available at every meal including both the morning and afternoon tea-break.

Accreditation

There is a formal accreditation system for degree students depending on the length of stay. We offer: 10 credits at Higher Education Intermediate Level and 20 credits at Higher Education Intermediate Level. Students studying under the UK system can be awarded 10 credits for a two week stay or 20 credits for a four week stay providing they complete the accreditation tasks. These are equivalent to 4 or 8 US credits. For a one week stay, participants may be awarded 20 credits at HE Certificate Level providing they complete the accreditation tasks. Anyone requiring academic credits will be required to submit a short piece of written work in consultation with the Assistant Director of the Project. A signed Certificate of Attendance is available for all Field School participants.

Excavation equipment

We provide 99% of the excavation equipment you will need at the excavation. Although we insist on Reading University students bringing their own trowels, we do hire out trowels to non-Reading University participants for a £10 deposit (which will be returned upon safe return of the trowel). For those who wish to bring their own trowel, the recommended size and issue of trowel (4" WHS) costs £14 and can be bought online at Past Horizons. We also advise that you bring a small 'planning kit' containing approximately five 6H pencils, an eraser and a pencil sharpener.

What we do not provide

There is no mains electricity supply. A single generator powers the computers we use on site. Mobile phones can be charged from this generator for £1. There are no facilities on site for washing clothes. Most participants either take laundry into Reading on the day off to use a launderette or wash smalls on site using travel-wash and the running water provided.

We do not provide transport on the day off. We offer minibus lifts to Mortimer Station and Reading town centre on the Thursday night but participants must appreciate that the staff need a day off too. The shops in the nearby towns of Mortimer and Tadley are only 2 miles and 2½ miles away respectively.