Thursday 29 May 2014

The Sherwood Forest Artchaeology Project 5000 Facebook likes!

We now have over 5,000 Facbeook LIKES for the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project!!! Archaeology and History of Medieval Sherwood Forest

Thank you to everyone for supporting the project and following us on Facebook!





This is one of our best mediums we have for sharing the work of the project, promoting the heritage of Sherwood Forest, and the work we and many others do in the Forest.

Please see the project website: http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/sherwoodforest.html for information on projects and how you can get involved...

Please see our crowdfunding page:http://www.gofundme.com/sherwoodforest for how you c an support the project and enable others to become involved.

We are proud to announce our upcoming volunteer test pitting dig in Edwinstowe village: Robin Hood's Village Dig 2014!

Http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/robinhood.html

We also have guided tours coming up in Sherwood Forest this summer:

http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/tours.html

Again we would like to say a big thank you and a warm welcome to 

"The Future of Sherwood's Past!!"




Wednesday 14 May 2014

Crowdfunding the Sherwood Forest Archaeology project

The Future of Sherwood's Past! 

Promoting the heritage of Sherwood Forest through community involvement.


This is the first time Community Archaeology has been supported by crowdfunding in Sherwood Forest!


www.gofundme.com/sherwoodforest




Sherwood Forest is a place of myths and legends known throughout the world as the home of Robin Hood...

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project enables people from all walks of life to become involved in an amazing community archaeology project...

Mercian Archaeological Services as a Community Interest Company provides opportunities for different groups and individuals to experience their Local Heritage together... the Project will engage volunteers from all walks of life and ages...  including young people,those currently out of work desiring transferable skills, students needing experience, adults with learning difficulties, through to people wanting to have a go and people wishing to fulfill a lifes abmition...  in this landscape of legends and folklore... all overseen by professional community archaeologists.

Community Archaeology can be a great source of social good as well as education.

The project combines community archaeology, research and outreach work- that promotes the archaeology, history and heritage of the wider Sherwood Forest, its landscape and people.

This research is intrinsically linked to raising the profile and value of the wider Sherwood Forest area.

Like our fabled Robin Hood this project seeks to help the community- but unlike our popular hero we seek funding from willing donators!

All donations will go to fund archaeological research and investigations, allowing the public to gain FREE opportunities to be involved and learn; within the very heart of Sherwood Forest!

Please see our websites for more information about Mercian Archaeological Services CIC, the history of Sherwood Forest, and our work:

Website:  www.mercian-as.co.uk/sherwoodforest.html
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Sherwoodforesthistory 
Blog:  www.sherwoodforesthistory.com
Mercian Website:  www.mercian-as.co.uk
Mercian Facebook:  www.facebook.com/mercianarch


As a reward for donating- all funders will have their name in the archaeological reports that their donations directly fund- unless they request anonymity.




Tuesday 13 May 2014

Robin Hood's Village Volunteer Dig- Dates confirmed

As part of the "Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project" Mercian Archaeological Services CIC will be running the Robin Hood's Village Dig in July 2014.

This is part of the Festival of British Archaeology and the dig will run from the 14th - 26th of July with an open day on Saturday the 26th.





The dig is being run in conjunction with the Edwinstowe Historical Society and will investigate the development of the village through test- pitting. 

The project is designed to tie in with key regional research objectives and could be of vital importance to understanding the landscape of Sherwood Forest over time.

This research forms part of Mercian's long term research in the Forest.

This is a free volunteer dig and has been funded by the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project:


  • The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project has the tag-line The Future of Sherwood's Past and aims to be a new community driven way of undertaking and supporting archaeological and historical research in the forest. 
  • The Sherwood Forest Archaeology project is a Community Archaeology project- this means involving volunteers and the community in all aspects (where possible) of archaeological research and investigations. 
  • The project is designed to bring sustainability to archaeological projects and investigations in Sherwood Forest by combining a number of funding streams including private, corporate, public and crowd-funding. 
  • The project aims to undertake long-term research across the whole area of Sherwood Forest and beyond. 
  • The project also seeks to be a free resource, where all research and fieldwork are available to the community at large, to foster a greater understanding of the heritage of Sherwood Forest.
  • The project aims to promote the notion of a wider Sherwood Forest that stretches across the multitude of sites that link together to make up this unique and exciting landscape.
  • The Project engages people from all walks of life and ages; including adults with learning difficulties, young people, as well as those currently out of work desiring transferable skills, students needing experience, and volunteers... in this landscape of legends and folklore... all overseen by professional community archaeologists.


If you would like to sign up to volunteer on the Robin Hood's Village Dig please email us to book a place.

Numbers are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Email: info@mercian-a.co.uk

or visit http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/robinhood.html to book your place!







Monday 5 May 2014

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology and History (guided) Walking Tour

Mercian Archaeological Services CIC offer a series of guided archaeology and history tours.




These include guided walking tours of Sherwood Forest, and Clipstone park where people can come along for a heritage ramble through woodland or around ancient heritage landscapes.

We also offer site tours of king John’s Palace, the royal Heart of Medieval Sherwood Forest.

To find out more, and to book a place on the tour of your choice please have a look at the options below.

Tours can also be arranged for local heritage, history or community groups, or for private group bookings. 

Mercian’s Andy Gaunt will be giving guided tours around the archaeology of Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve over the course of this summer.



Join him to learn about the history and archaeology of Sherwood Forest, Forest Law, outlaws, villains, Kings, Keepers of the Forest, Robin Hood, daily life in the time of Robin Hood, and some of the sites around the wider Sherwood Forest...



Come and walk in this landscape of legends, meet some of the majestic veteran Oak trees, and see some of the archaeology on the ground (including ridge and furrow, holloways, and World War II remains) and learn from the experts who run the Sherwood Forest Archaeology Project.



The tour will start near the visitors centre before heading out through Birklands wood to see the wonderful nature of this ancient landscape, we will eventually make our way up towards the ancient Lings at Budby heath. We will then visit the magnificent Major Oak, before returning to where we started… passing archaeology and hearing about the history of the medieval hunting forest and its landscape along the way…

Tours cost 


Price: £7


Duration : Approx. 2 - 2 ½ hours

(A shorter tour can be arranged for private group bookings)

Distance: Approx. 3 kilometres or 2 miles

Meeting at: Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve outer car park (see map)- Postcode for sat nav: NG21 9HN

Time: 18:00 (6pm) Wednesday evenings (see dates below).



Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.


To book please visit http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/tours.html

And chose a date from the list provided and then purchase a place by clicking ‘Buy Now’ for that tour.