Large sarsen stones within a grass field. In the background are trees and fields.jpg

PAST PARTICIPATE

Archaeology for You

Past Participate specialise in delivering high quality research-led heritage investigations. We don’t bid for commercial contracts, so you won’t find us on building sites in cities, or working on sites in the path of motorways or runways. Our passion is in community-led research, whether in villages, farms, national parks or back gardens.

ABOUT US

We are a small organisation of three, each of whom brings experience of community involvement and public engagement with archaeological research. The two founders, Jim Rylatt and Anne Teather, have collectively over 50 years’ experience in archaeology that encompasses fieldwork, commercial archaeology, academic research and teaching, and museum archives. We have worked together on large research excavations, training students and volunteers of all ages and abilities for over two decades. Jim is trained to Master’s level in Landscape Archaeology and Anne holds a PhD in British prehistoric archaeology and has taught formally in Higher Education. With our collaboration with Dr Hayley Roberts whose expertise is in community archaeology practices, we have the ideal team to take community archaeology forward. Our combined skill set, and wide contacts within the archaeological profession, mean that we have the experience and aptitude to develop engaging community archaeology that is of outstanding quality.

OUR PROJECTS

Some people are using tools and standing by wheel barrows on a large area of orange soil. The sky is blue and the grass around the soil is green.

TENANTS HILL, WEST DORSET

LIVING AMONGST THE SARSENS, THE VALLEY OF STONES

2 children and a lady are kneeling by a square of soil. They are using hand shovels

QUANTOCKS LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP

Several people are standing in field, they are all looking in different directions. Some cows are nearby and looking at the people

MARSTON MAGNA HERITAGE GROUP

Two people are standing in the foreground, one is looking away from the camera across a valley to a grassy field. In this field earthworks are visible. The other person is turned towards the camera

"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done"

Thomas Jefferson

JOIN US

Would you like to talk to us or maybe just sign up for our newsletter? Please get in touch if you think you might like to be involved in our projects, or if you have a professional or academic inquiry. For example, we can provide students with training in fieldwork techniques, or advice for outreach within an academic project.

A Group of peopel are sitting on chairs under a shelter. Most of them are looking towards a man who is holding a tray on his lap