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The pure magic of uncovering the past is exactly what gets archaeologists out of bed every morning, and we want to share that with you.
The pure magic of uncovering the past is exactly what gets archaeologists out of bed every morning, and we want to share that with you.
The fate of archaeology might seem trivial in the light of the much wider impact of the global pandemic, but history, heritage, and culture matter to everyone. And it’s not just the fact that museums and cultural centres are closed – the remains of ancient sites and monuments are often vulnerable to the attritional effects of agriculture, weather events, development, and looting – especially when people can’t get out there to look after them.
Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve seen a global surge of interest in archaeology from people in all sorts of circumstances – from key workers working double shifts to those on furlough – who want to keep their minds occupied, learn something new, and make the most of any opportunities to enjoy the things they love, at home.
Our goal is to ensure that archaeology is not forgotten during this global crisis – and that even when most archaeologists are working alone and in isolation, we can still come together and bring amazing research to the attention of the world.
That’s why DigVentures is making this year’s DigNation Festival a free, virtual event that is open and accessible to everyone – so that together, we can showcase the best archaeology this planet has to offer, and bring the experience straight into your hands, hearts and homes for you to enjoy.
Over the next few weeks, the line-up for DigNation is going to be building rapidly. We’ve already heard back from projects across all four corners of the globe, and you can expect talks on everything from rock art, ancient DNA, and Neolithic passage tombs, to the latest discoveries using LIDAR.
Nobody really knows what the future holds, but one thing we can count on for sure: we’ll always have archaeology! Join us for the weekend and you’ll get to hear from some of the most exciting, diverse, fantastic projects that we’ve ever heard of – and plenty that we haven’t!
DigNation was launched in 2018 with our first-ever festival. Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson, DigNation 2018 was held on Lindisfarne as well as streamed live to international ticketholders. Incorporating a live excavation, lectures and a Fringe, the sold-out event was a celebration of Mick Aston’s career, with speakers from across his many projects as well as colleagues from Time Team.
