Arrival Date: 28 June

Departure Date: 19 July

Travel Instructions:  

Nearest airport: Newcastle Upon Tyne

From airport, take the Metro into Newcastle Central Station (15 minutes), and then a train to Durham (15 minutes). 

Metro website & schedules: http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Metro

Train website & schedule: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/

UPDATE: The journey takes 25-30 minutes to reach Newcastle city centre. There are trains every 12 minutes from approximately 5.44am (Sundays 6.27am) to 11.58pm.

To get to Halls of Residence at St Chad's College (U of Durham), we encourage you to get a taxi, as Durham is very hilly and you'll be dragging bags.  You can catch taxis from outside the station. If you are coming from Newcastle, you'll need to cross to the other side of the track and catch the taxis from outside the main station building (its not very big). If you are coming up from the south (York/London) then you'll already be on the right side of the tracks.

If you wish to walk, go downhill from the train station.  See this map for route:  Google Map Route

• Start at: Durham Railway Station N Rd Durham, Durham, DH1, United Kingdom
• 1. Head northeast toward Station Approach - 30 ft
• 2. Turn right at Station Approach - 0.2 mi
• 3. Sharp left at North Rd - 197 ft
• 4. At the traffic circle, take the 4th exit - 0.1 mi
• 5. Turn right at North Rd - 0.1 mi
• 6. Turn right to stay on North Rd - 223 ft
• 7. Continue on Silver St - 0.2 mi
• 8. Turn right at Saddler St - 0.1 mi
• 9. Continue on N Bailey
• Destination will be on the left - 0.1 mi
• Arrive at: St Chad's College

Info on St Chad's College:  http//www.dur.ac.uk/StChads/

Info on Durham:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham , http://www.visitcountydurham.com/ , http://www.durhamtourism.co.uk/home.html

Contact Information:

Michael Shanks:  001 650 996 8763

Gary Devore: 0039 333 900 1708

David Petts: 07808 727953

Before You Leave:

Make sure you have an up-to-date tetanus shot. This is very important! If you have had one within the last 5-10 years then it will still be good. Otherwise you should contact your local doctor and make the necessary arrangements.

What to Bring:

You are expected to provide all of your personal articles. Below is a list of items that will be essential to you this summer and also suggestions about what else to bring. Pack with sunny, possibly damp, weather in mind (Average weather range is between 55-68 degrees with rainfall around 2 inches).

• Trowel. You can bring your own 4" WHS trowel or can purchase one from the Project for £10.
• Make sure to bring stout footware to dig in because when it rains it can get muddy and slippery in the field.  (best to bring one pair to dig in, one pair for after work.)
• A bag / daypack -- for taking on site with you.
• Personal medication -- For example, bite cream, antihistamine, prescription medicine, etc.
• Secure Pocket -- This is a zippered pocket you wear around your neck inside your shirt or around your waist inside your pants. You can keep your passport and money safe in this and carry it with you at all times.
• Clothes suitable for digging in -- For work on site we recommend you bring shorts/trousers and t-shirts/vest tops that you feel comfortable in and don't mind getting very dirty. You may want to go to a Goodwill / Charity Shop and stock up on cheap t-shirts and clothes that you can simply throw away at the end of the season. Everything will get very, very dirty.
• Waterproofs. A lightweight waterproof jacket or disposable plastic poncho.
• Warm clothes -- It can get chilly at night so bring a couple of warmer tops and trousers / pants / jeans to wear off site during the evening.
• Earplugs in case there is noise outside the flats at night.

(The Halls of Residence will supply bed linen and towels)

Advice from David Petts:  "You will probably find the excavation hard work. The excavation will continued even if the weather becomes inclement, unless it becomes dangerous or impractical to do so. The climate of North-East England, even in the summer months, can charitably be described as mixed, and may vary from hot to wet and windy. The weather forecasters may be predicting a heat wave this summer, but come prepared for all eventualities. You will need waterproof clothing and a warm sweater would also be sensible. If we are lucky and have plenty of warm weather make sure you bring a hat and sun cream.  In general digging can be very dirty work- particularly if it gets muddy, so bring clothes which you are happy to get dirty and mucky. Bring reasonably stout footwear; ideally boots with ankle supports. In the UK the main tool for archaeological fieldwork is 4” WHS Spear & Jackson pointing trowel. These can be borrowed or purchased on site."

Facilities:
Breakfast at St Chad's will be at 8am.  Dinner will be from 6pm.  Packed lunches will be provided.  You may wish to bring additional food or drink, as there are no shops available local to site.

Schedule:
Weekday mornings the team will be picked up by minivan outside the Student’s Union building (Dunelm House). The working day will be 9-4.30 with a 30 minute lunch break and a 15 minute tea break.  You'll be given more info when you arrive at St Chad's.