On Saturday August 10th, our team of students in North Yorkshire broke ground at an archaeological dig in Streethouse, UK. Just north of Loftus in an old farm field, the site was first discovered as a focus of curiosity when Dr. Stephen Sherlock had hired a third party to conduct a geophysical scan of the terrain. Upon analysis of the results, Sherlock noticed that there were some indicators of archaeological activity in the field. 

During the first week of August 2024, a small group of students from the DRAGEN Lab began a month-long research and work assignment that has taken them to Streethouse, located in North Yorkshire. For the duration of this assignment, the team will be participating in various research and experiential learning opportunities to support work being conducted by Dr. Stephen Sherlock, a project collaborator, and his archaeological expeditions at the Streethouse Farm. This was the second year that the DRAGEN Lab has deployed learners to Streehouse to work with Dr. Sherlock.

Week three of the work term for members of the DRAGEN Lab team led them to North Yorkshire, to engage with artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations at Streethouse from 1979 to the present day. Finds from this site range from Neolithic, Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. A true spectacle of historic significance, Streethouse is home to thousands of years of saltwork production across various time periods, historic settlements, as well as a significant Conversion period Anglo-Saxon cemetery which contains the grave of an Anglo-Saxon princess found lying on a bed. 

From June 5-16th members from the DRAGEN lab team travelled to Gravesend, UK to participate in 3D scanning and public history Hands on Archaeology: Unearthing Gravesham’s Past exhibition at the Woodville Civic Centre. Throughout the two-week work term at this exhibition, team members were trained to 3D scan local Roman and Anglo-Saxon archaeological finds, as well as participate in public engagement with community members from Gravesend to discuss fascinating histories that have been unearthed through local archaeological digs. Our team’s involvement in this project were under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Sherlock, a co-investigator on Environments of Change and an archeologist with Britain’s National Highways agency.  

During their time in Gravesend, UK, members of our team visited Shorne Woods County Park in Kent to see Randall Manor with Andrew Mayfield, Community Archaeologist with Heritage Conservation Group, Kent County Council. The Randall Manor is a medieval manor house that was the focal point of a 10-year archaeology excavation funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund from 2006 to 2015. During this excursion to Shorne Woods, the team learned of a group of 10-15 volunteer archaeologists who work with the Heritage Conservation in Kent to dig “test pits” with the goal of discovering different finds throughout the park. 

Effectively engaging general public audiences in history and the importance of historical artifacts can be quite troublesome in most cases. In particular, promoting events that involve elements of history and scientific research is considerably difficult to gain public interest. Using available digital media tools, such as social media and communications to attract audiences can be a considerable asset to attracting community members to attend public engagement events.