Sherwood Forest Archaeological Training Field School 2026

Take your skills to the next level by joining Mercian Archaeological Serices CIC for a week long Archaeological Training Field School in Sherwood Forest

This is not an ordinary field school - this is a ‘training field school’ where you will learn about all aspects of archaeological excavation and receive hands-on training and learning from archaeological professionals at Mercian Archaeological Services CIC in the heart of Sherwood Forest.

As well as offering the best in archaeological training and support, the Field School is tailored towards enabling attendees to fulfil the requirements of the Archaeological Skills Passport.

Archaeological Training Field School:

This course is suitable for all levels, from beginner to experienced digger.

We cover the Core Skills of the Archaeological Skills Passport:

Handtools (Trowel etc); Handtools (Spade, Mattock etc); Site Formation Processes; Stratigraphic Excavation; Context Sheet Recording; Site Photography; Site Grid and Trench Layout;; Dumpy Level and Staff; Planning; Section Drawing; Site Safety;

And we also provide lessons in:

Finds Processing; Pottery identification; Finds handling; Finds processing; History of Ceramics lectures and much more…

Field Days include a lunchtime sandwich.

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Field School focuses on the medieval hunting lodge and palatial enclosure of the King’s Houses, now known as King John’s Palace, and the designed landscape that surrounded it.

King John’s Palace was the Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest in the Medieval period.

The site was visited by all 8 kings from Henry II to Richard II, with King John possibly holding a proto-parliament there in the early 13th century and Edward I holding Parliament there in 1290.

As part of the field school attendees will have the opportunity to learn all about Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood, outlaws, foresters, the landscape of Sherwood Forest in medieval times, the forest law, courts, offences and judiciary, the Palace at Clipstone, monasteries, chapels and hermitages, hunting parks, Nottingham Castle, Sheriffs and much much more about life in Medieval Sherwood Forest…