February 24, 2012 10.51 am This story is over 145 months old

Bishop Grosseteste open archeology lab to public

Open lab: The university will allow local groups to make use of the state-of-the-art equipment within its lab to learn more about the county’s history.
Craig Spence, Senior Lecturer and Project manager in the lab

Those with an interest in archeology can now make use of Bishop Grosseteste’s laboratory to learn more about findings on dig expeditions.

BG is opening its lab doors to various archaeology and history groups in Lincolnshire, due to gaining £40,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project is called Open Lab, and will run for two years. It gives groups a chance to bring their own local findings once a fortnight to the lab to learn more about its origins.

Learning will involve how to undertake heritage research, object conservation, photography, digital technologies and archiving.

Advice and sessions will be run by archaeology and history professors from the university college.

Many items brought into the lab will go on display in The Collection museum on Danes Terrace.

Senior Lecturer and Project Manager Craig Spence said: “Getting support from the Heritage Lottery Fund is a fantastic boost to the community archaeology activities we do at the college.

“It will allow us to work with more volunteer groups and help them learn new skills, which will make their future projects much more successful and allow them to become much more self-sufficient.

“The things we can help the groups document will eventually be archived at The Collection, securing it for the future.”

As well as groups, BG hopes to host workshops for schools in addition to public road-show events.

Antony Lee from The Collection added: “Discoveries made by amateur archaeology groups continue to add to our knowledge of the county’s heritage.

“The fantastic project at BG will help ensure that such finds are properly looked after so that people can continue to enjoy and learn from them well into the future.”

For more information, visit the BG Open Lab website or sign up by contacting BG on 01522 583774 or by email.