DU Auckland Castle Excavations

@ArcDurham, w/@AucklandProject - digging up hidden histories of Auckland Castle. Now prepping for the 2025 edition! Tweets by @JohnCastling @MeganOlshefski

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

Day 5 - We have walls! We have finds! We have a tower? 1) uncovering a large stone surface which has the trench playing the game “Tower or Buttress?”, 2) chasing the curtain wall in the top trench, & 3) finding amazing things (such as a base of a small cauldron).

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

Day 4 - A day of recording, finds, and fashion! From recording the well from Day 3, to medieval pottery, a bishop’s roasted pig, to site fashion…It’s been a full day with the @ArcDurham students!

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

Day 3 - Well, well, well…we have a well/spring! Just in time too as it may help keep us all cool as we enter some warmer days on site…meanwhile, some interesting mortar-material has appeared in the #archarology of Trench D.

📸 Photo 1- Jamie Armstrong
Photos 2, 3- Intern Tom

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

Day 2 - We have a couple of trenches open this year w/ plenty to get through to reach the #archaeology. May that be turf or the backfill of previous years, the team has taken it on in stride!

(@aucklandproject is running trench tours Wed-Sun, 13.00!)

📸 - Jamie Armstrong

[The Auckland Project @aucklandproject]

It’s day two of our archaeological excavation, so join us on a quick tour of the trenches and what we’re hoping to find!

Don’t forget our Trench Tours start tomorrow, running Wed - Sun. You’ll be able to learn more about what we’re finding 1pm - 1.30pm 🪏

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

Day 1- our final season of #archaeology excavations at @aucklandproject in Bishop Auckland! @ArcDurham students received their site briefing and off they went chasing walls and drains!

Follow along the next three weeks to see what we find…

[Megan Olshefski @MeganOlshefski]

Day 1 - We’re back for our final year of #archaeology at Bishop Auckland! Follow along or come visit us on site!

@ArcDurham @aucklandproject @DUACE2025 @cmgerrard1 @JohnCastling

[Chris Gerrard @cmgerrard1]

Day 1. Durham students on their way right now to excavate on the north terrace at Auckland Palace. Really looking forward to this. Three weeks ahead of us. What will we discover this year? @ArcDurham @aucklandproject

[The Auckland Project @aucklandproject]

Guess who’s back…👀

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

In preparation for our -Final- season of #Archaeology with @ArcDurham / @durham_uni / @aucklandproject , we have a new Bluesky page! Follow along (🦋 @DUACE2025) as the prep begins (primarily stocking-up the coffee!).

@cmgerrard1 @JohnCastling @MeganOlshefski

[John Castling @JohnCastling]

Over 5 months after we first discovered Sir Arthur Haselrig’s lost 1650s mansion, it’s finally been covered over!

Such a great #Archaeology dig, that’s been loved by students, staff, volunteers and visitors alike.

Now to wash my very muddy coat and do some writing up!

[The Auckland Project @aucklandproject]

Join us for an evening with Chris Gerrard, Durham University Professor, as he shares his discoveries, including the uncovering of Bek's Chapel at Auckland Palace, featured on BBC2's Digging for Britain. Don't miss this rare chance—get your tickets now! 🎟️ https://t.co/ke7SBiRZgk

[John Castling @JohnCastling]

ICYMI (I did), our @aucklandproject Young Archaeologists' Club @YAC_CBA was given an award by @DurhamCouncil's @DurhamYC! 🏆

Really proud of them for their kindness with each other & willingness to get stuck in with all sorts of #archaeology activities!
https://t.co/JHq5S821xo

[John Castling @JohnCastling]

Much more rain here and we’ll need to call some of our underwater archaeologists friends from @NautArchSoc when they’re in Durham for their conference in Nov - which’ll be worth checking it out. If you’re an @ArchandArch member there’s a reduced rate https://t.co/QiJbL7oqoL

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

@aucklandproject @MeganOlshefski @ArcDurham @durham_uni

[The Auckland Project @aucklandproject]

Join us for an evening with Chris Gerrard, Durham University Professor, as he shares his discoveries, including the uncovering of Bek's Chapel at Auckland Palace, featured on BBC2's Digging for Britain. Don't miss this rare chance—get your tickets now! 🎟️ https://t.co/ke7SBiRZgk

[The Auckland Project @aucklandproject]

Exciting news, our archaeological excavation and trench tours are continuing into autumn! ⛏️

Watch our video with John to find out more.

[Megan Olshefski @MeganOlshefski]

The Professor is in - coffee in hand, sharpened pencil in the other, in his natural element amongst the #archaeology. @cmgerrard1

[Durham University @durham_uni]

Archaeologists from @ArcDurham & @aucklandproject discovered some fascinating things during a summer of digs at Auckland Castle. And there’s still time to go along and see for yourself what they found ⛏️ https://t.co/FekoSuGTJf #DUinspire

[DU Auckland Castle Excavations @DUACE2025]

The site is still open for visitors with tours running through the end of August! Come pay a visit @aucklandproject before Haselrigge’s dream house disappears under the lawn!
@cmgerrard1 @JohnCastling @MeganOlshefski @ArcDurham @durham_uni @NewsBishop @BishopPress @batownteam