We’re back for our third season at the Cerney Wick Mammoth Dig, running from the 21st July to the 10th august and we’re calling on the BAJR community to join us!

This is a fully volunteer-led excavation uncovering Late Pleistocene megafauna, including mammoth remains in the Cotswolds. The dig has been a huge success thanks to the incredible dedication of volunteers from all backgrounds, and 2025 promises to be the most exciting season yet in terms of our scope!

Whether you’re a student, early career archaeologist, or just passionate about prehistory, all levels of experience are welcome. Training and guidance will be provided (using the standard archaeology fieldwork methods) on the dig which makes this a fantastic bit of experience on a CV for those starting out!

We’ve recovered numerous megafaunal remains, lithics and even fossils of Jurassic age in our substrata layers.

Volunteers and students are likely to practice:

• Excavation methods
• Conservation + jacketing
• Recording methods (including the use of Diggit)
• Archiving
• Rubbing shoulders with experts, companies and museums (both palaeontological and archaeological)

The dig is free to join, but we do ask for a donation in the registration which all goes towards more equipment and expendables. Deadline is 8th June! This is a unique opportunity! Don’t miss out!

Feel free to message Kieran Mason on Facebook if you have any questions!

Registration for students:

https://forms.gle/Pk5H4isrh3Afdf5Q8

Registration for volunteers:

https://forms.gle/qWteCKcUGsp5NpyK6

Excavating a Palaeolithic (Marine Isotope Stage 6) paleochannel, the work will involve working in several gridded areas (working in teams) determined from pXRF and geophysical surveys. Volunteers can expect hands-on experience with excavation techniques, identification, and safe removal of megafaunal remains, as well as potential experience with plaster jacketing all while showing how best to record sediments for future record. Work involving sifting through palaeochannel spoil, recovering 1mm+ ecofacts and environmental material to better our understanding of the historical ecology of the area. At our discretion, some volunteers may assist with conservation, learning techniques to carefully record and conserve recovered ecofacts.