BAG BCD2026 – Barrow upon Trent Parish History Research Group

BCD 2026

Welcome to the online overview of the Barrow Community Dig 2026 (BCD 2026)

In September 2026, members of the Barrow Archaeology Group joined forces with local residents and enthusiastic volunteers to uncover the hidden story beneath our feet. Across two days of excavation, twelve test pits were dug in gardens, paddocks, and open spaces throughout Barrow upon Trent.

Why We Did It

Barrow upon Trent has a rich, layered history—from its early settlement and medieval ties to the Knights Hospitaller, right through to its post-medieval and modern development. However, because much of the village centre is built upon, large-scale open-area excavations are rarely possible.

Test-pitting offers the perfect solution. By digging small, controlled $1\text{m} \times 1\text{m}$ archaeological pits across a grid of accessible garden sites, we can sample the soil systematically across the village. This approach allows us to:

Map spatial patterns of human activity and occupation over hundreds of years.
Recover key diagnostic finds—such as pottery sherds, building materials, and personal items—that pinpoint when specific parts of Barrow were first settled.
Engage the local community directly in discovering and preserving their own heritage.

How We Did It

Every pit was excavated following precise archaeological standards to ensure all evidence was recorded contextually and safely.

Standardised Units: Each team opened a single 1-metre square test pit, carefully removing topsoil and subsoil in controlled 10cm spits or distinct natural contexts.
100% Soil Sieving: All excavated spoil was systematically sieved through wire mesh to ensure even tiny pottery sherds, animal bone fragments, and metal artifacts were recovered.
Recording & Stratigraphy: Volunteers recorded soil changes, depths, and feature boundaries on standardized context sheets, accompanied by scale photography and section drawing.
Finds Processing: Material was cleaned, dried, bagged by context, and prepared for our collective Finds Assessment Day to be catalogued and dated.

Test Pit Locations

Use the interactive map below to explore the twelve test pit sites across the village. Click on any pit marker to view its context, summary of excavated layers, and notable discoveries from the weekend.

Interested in participating in future digs?

The 2026 excavation was a tremendous success, and plans are already underway for our next major community dig. Keep an eye on our news section or sign up for updates to join us on the next pit!