Dr Susan Greaney, Lecturer in Archaeology, describes the role the Bridging Communities Fund played in supporting ongoing collaborations between the University of Exeter, National Trust, and Historic England. This project, informed by local archaeological sites, is focused on bringing new development opportunities to students, staff, and heritage volunteers.
Since 2022, the archaeology and history department at the University of Exeter (UofE) have been working in partnership with the National Trust (NT) at their historic estate, Killerton, near Cullompton in Devon. We have been collaborating on researching Killerton’s history through excavation and survey, as part of a multi-year project that includes annual student training. The area has a significant Iron Age hillfort, possible Roman road, and both medieval and post-medieval settlements. It also includes the site of an original Elizabethan manor house as well as an 18th century house and parkland. We identified a need for training amongst staff, students and volunteers, to provide experience of archaeological earthwork survey. This would allow them to conduct their own research and go on to train others. Therefore, we approached the Historic England survey team, who were keen to pilot such training, and applied to the Bridging Communities Fund for funding to run a practical course.
Over two days in April 2024, a team of six UofE staff and post-graduate students, and six NT staff and volunteers, were trained by two Historic England staff in analytical earthwork survey. During the training, we got to familiarise ourselves with the estate’s earthworks, and using specialist equipment, conducted a survey and drew up hachures to depict these earthworks in detail. Lunch and drinks were provided on both days, and room space was provided by the NT. Both UofE and NT participants were trained using equipment they can already access, hopefully allowing them to conduct their own research surveys in future.
The training course was a great way for participants to learn more about the practical skills of archaeological earthwork survey and conducting surveys with a total station. The course enabled people from three organisations to learn more about each other’s work and build networks. The differences in backgrounds and knowledge levels between participants meant that it was sometimes tricky to correctly pitch the information, but Historic England staff were extremely helpful, and the training has strengthened the links between all partners.
The learning was put into immediate use as part of the student excavations at Columbjohn in May-June 2024, with Historic England staff again supporting survey set-up and training, and UofE staff training undergraduate students in earthwork survey. One of our postgraduate students will be using the skills learnt in his own research, and another is now looking into a placement hosted by Historic England. We hope that further archaeological surveys can be carried out at Killerton alongside the NT volunteers in due course.
This project was part of an ongoing research partnership between UofE and NT, funded by our own department budgets. We would like to develop this partnership further, and will be looking to find funding to continue with earthwork and/or geophysical survey across the estate. Likewise, we are keen to continue working with Historic England, using their technical knowledge and understanding of the region’s prehistory to enhance our research. We are currently considering potential research projects relevant to all three partners, exploring local prehistoric features that will give us a better understanding of the Killerton landscape and how it should be managed in future. This project and further collaboration will have a positive impact on staff, students and volunteers, who, by having opportunities to participate in new research, can feel a greater sense of belonging and responsibility for this special place.