“An experience I’d repeat in a heartbeat” – Shawn’s archaeological summer study experience

Jonny Airey
Friday 15 November 2024

Applications for St Andrews Summer Study 2025 are open,

More information on our courses and how to apply can be found on the St Andrews Summer Study webpages.

Shawn is a student from Westfield State University who studied Monastic Scotland: History and Archaeology as part of St Andrews Summer Study 2024. Read on to find out more about his time on the course and what he unearthed (literally!) during the immersive archaeological excavation that students experience!

The Monastic Scotland: History and Archaeology program was an incredible experience unlike any other. As a medieval history student, St Andrews was the perfect place to study with its rich medieval history surrounding you. It was amazing getting to explore the ruins of the town’s cathedral and take classes in a building once owned by the Knights Hospitaller. I loved the blend of classes on Monastic history and archaeology with the hands-on experience of digging at Lindores Abbey (a 12th century monastery).

Monastic Scotland students at Lindores Abbey field site

My favorite part of the experience was my time spent at the dig site, Lindores Abbey. We started out by surveying the land, mapping out the features and where our trenches were going to go. It was interesting doing this part of the work as it’s not something I had ever thought about in regards to an archaeological dig. Everything should be marked on our grid so it can be submitted with our final report when the dig is complete and our finds can be appropriately assessed. After this was completed, it was time to start digging through the top layer of turf. That was the most physically demanding part of the excavation for me. It took some strength to break through the network of roots holding the grass together.

The feeling of finding something from the Middle Ages with your own hands is incredible. That moment was the highlight of the dig for me.”

shawn starting to dig trench beginning with top layer of turf.
Digging through the top layer of turf

Once that was removed, we started meticulously scraping down layers of dirt looking to see what we could find. It felt like I had been scraping for ages when I finally thought I had found something worthwhile. I brought the artifact over to the trench supervisor with an excited grin just to be told, “that’s a fine example of a rock!”. After some time working in the dirt I found something else. “This must finally be something”, I thought to myself. Bringing it over to the supervisor for examination he informed me that I had found a shard of 14th century East-Anglia ceramics. The feeling of finding something from the Middle Ages with your own hands is incredible. That moment was the highlight of the dig for me.

“From start to finish, my time studying at St Andrews and digging at Lindores Abbey was an experience I would repeat in a heartbeat.”

The final week, while most people were still digging, I had the opportunity to work on post-excavation tasks. I was cleaning and cataloging the many things we found, such as medieval pottery, a Victorian drain pipe, a French ceramic bird whistle, butchered animal bones, and so much more. Getting to clean these objects was a real treat. They had been covered in dirt and buried for a long time and I got to clear the dirt from them and see the colors shine through for the first time in decades or even centuries.

From start to finish, my time studying at St Andrews and digging at Lindores Abbey was an experience I would repeat in a heartbeat. 

Shawn pictured with the Monastic Scotland teaching team

Thank you to Shawn for sharing his experience. More information on our courses and how to apply can be found on the St Andrews Summer Study webpages or you can contact the team at [email protected].

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