Otterburn Training Area: Exercise Border Reiver/Exercise Lidar Truth

This project involves working with our partners at the Ministry of Defence and Breaking Ground Heritage to investigate the rich archaeology of the Otterburn Training Area. Local volunteers have been taking part in archaeological investigations together with participants from Operation Nightingale, an MoD initiative to assist the recovery of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans.

The project aims to provide volunteers from the local community and veterans from the military community with a high-quality experience of archaeological fieldwork through ‘on-the job’ training in archaeological fieldwork techniques.

Exercise Border Reiver

In August 2019, 25 volunteers excavated possible prehistoric features at Bellshiel Rigg, led by Wessex Archaeology. The participants learnt archaeological skills in geophysical survey, metric survey and osteology over the course of the two weeks, as well as developing their ‘soft skills’ through coaching from Wessex Archaeology staff. All the features were found to probably post-date the late Iron Age/Roman period. You can read the excavation report here.

Exercise Lidar Truth

Excavations took place in September 2020 and August 2021, led by Wessex Archaeology, with volunteers and Operation Nightingale participants, examining two possible prehistoric features that were identified as part of the Lidar Landscapes project. You can read and download the excavation reports below.

Exercise Lidar Truth Excavation Report 2020

Exercise Lidar Truth Excavation Report 2021

Yatesfield Iron Age-Romano British settlement

An excavation of a possible Iron Age/Romano British settlement identified as part of the Lidar Landscapes project took place during June 2021. The investigations established that the site consists of an enclosed settlement and related agricultural systems dating to the Late Iron Age/Early Romano-British period. You can read and download the report below.

Yatesfield Excavation report 2021