England's Hidden Kingdom

  England

• Yorkshire & the Humber: 
York,  Tor Dyke

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: 2008: Jun 6 - Jun 20, Jul 4 - Jul 18

Description: Research Mission
Go back in time as you unearth the buried history of a mysterious ancient kingdom .

Situation Report
Chapel House Wood, Yorkshire, England The period after the Romans withdrew from the British Isles and left a political void, from the 5th through 7th centuries A.D., was a time of turmoil and transition in England. What happened in that void is largely unknown, particularly in Yorkshire, where Roman influence seems to have been slight and archaeological research spotty. One speculation is that an entire independent kingdom, called Craven, thrived in this area during that period. Fortunately, centuries of traditional sheep-grazing have left the soil unplowed, and hence 3,000 years of history buried here remain largely intact. Archaeologist and veteran Earthwatch principal investigator Dr. Roger Martlew has launched a project to explore the neglected archaeology of upland Yorkshire and remove the shroud of mystery from Craven.

Meals and Accommodations
You'll stay at Dale House, a large stone house in the picturesque village of Kettlewell, near the river Wharfe, about a ten-minute drive from the field sites. Dale House offers a mixture of single and twin bedrooms, as well as a dining room and comfortable sitting room. Hot showers, conventional sanitation, and laundry facilities are available. You'll take packed lunches into the field and enjoy two-course evening meals, provided by the bistro next door, in Dale House's dining room. Food is basic but plentiful, and local pubs can be visited to augment your diet if desired.

Highlights: On the Expedition
You will help Martlew discover what lies beneath the Yorkshire Dales' scenic patchwork of stone walls, grazing sheep, and small towns. In rotating crews of three, your work will be divided between surveying and excavation tasks. You will document underground features and create maps, using topographic mapping techniques and geophysical measurements. Using a hand trowel, you will "take down the layers" and plot and record your finds. You will also help launch a survey of present-day plant species and pollen samples from peat cores to explore how the local environment has changed since the Roman period. The research site is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with steep-sided valleys cutting through high moorland, where the television series All Creatures Great and Small was filmed. At the research site and beyond, you'll feel transported to another time.

Qualifications: Earthwatch volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. Teams have a minimum age of 18, unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is 16.

Cost in US$: 2,846

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: 18 - 90

This Program is open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to England Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 9-14

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. Hundreds of expedition teams can use your help in 48 countries and 16 U.S. states this year.

Year Founded: 1971