"What beautiful photos! The selection from Avon Camp are wonderful - what a fantastic way to document the dig."
Prof. Alice Roberts
I have supported both 'Operation Nightingale' and 'Breaking Ground Heritage' for a number of years, my aim being to help raise awareness of these wonderful projects (that utilise archaeology to aid the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured or sick military veterans) through my photography. As well as documenting the excavations, and narrating the human story, I cover any technical photographic requirements on site, including 3D photogrammetry, and provide post-excavation finds photography. Here are the photo-archives from the key projects...
THE LOST VILLAGE OF IMBER  |  JUNE 2023
An Operation Nightingale archaeological project to find evidence of farm buildings (and earlier mediaeval structures) on the deserted village of Imber on Salisbury Plain which has been used for military training purposes since its controversial evacuation in 1943.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
EXERCISE: REDCAP RECOVERY  |  MAY 2023
An ongoing archaeological project on Burrow (Rat) Island, in Portsmouth Harbour. In early May 2023, an excavation utilising personnel from the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) of the Royal Military Police, aimed to further recover human remains of Georgian-period convicts under threat from erosion from time and tide.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​
DIGGING BAND OF BROTHERS  |  MAY 2023
Our 3rd excavation of the Digging Band Of Brothers project in Aldbourne, Wiltshire, looking for traces of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who were based in the village prior to D-Day and Op Market Garden. A collaboration between Operation Nightingale and Time Team, we are joined by British and US Veterans, along with serving US military personnel.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
EXERCISE: BLUESTONE  |  MARCH 2023
An archaeological investigation and excavation of the infamous neolithic Boles Barrow on Salisbury Plain.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
EXERCISE: RING GIVER  |  JULY 2022
A continuation of the archaeological project at Avon Camp, near Larkhill on Salisbury Plain, to look for evidence of a 7th Century Anglo-Saxon Burial Ground.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​
EXERCISE: DIGGING BAND OF BROTHERS  |  MAY 2022
An archaeological project at Aldbourne, Wiltshire, aiming to discover and understand more about 'Easy Company', the legendary 'Band Of Brothers' and their time billeted in this quaint English Village prior to D-Day and Market Garden in 1944.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
EXERCISE: RING GIVER  |  JULY 2021
An archaeological project at Avon Camp, near Larkhill on Salisbury Plain, to look for evidence of a suspected 7th Century Anglo-Saxon Ring Ditch and Burial Ground.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​
EXERCISE: REDCAP RECOVERY  |  MARCH 2021
An ongoing archaeological project on Rat Island, in Portsmouth Harbour. In late May and early June of 2021, an excavation utilising personnel from the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) of the Royal Military Police, aimed to further recover human remains under threat from erosion.
[click image to view the photographic archive]
[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: ROUNDHOUSE  |  SEPTEMBER 2020​​​​​​​

An excavation to find evidence of a Bronze Age roundhouse and dwellings at Dunch Hill on Salisbury Plain. It is intended that a replica of the house will be built at Butser Ancient Farm during 2021.

[click image to view the photographic archive]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: REDCAP RECOVERY (PHASE 3)  |  JUNE 2019​​​​​​​

An excavation at Bullecourt on the Western Front in France that was the area of two devastating battles in April and May 1917. This project was focussed on an Australian Dugout and communication trench on the Railway Embankment.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

EXERCISE: DIGGING BAND OF BROTHERS  |  MAY 2019​​​​​​​

From September 1943 until June 1944, Aldbourne in Wiltshire was home to the infamous US Paratroopers: Easy Company from the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division. This excavation aimed to locate the bunk hut used by the Platoon Sergeants of Easy Co, including Carwood Lipton and Don Malarkey.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

EXERCISE: SHALLOW GRAVE  |  MAY 2019​​​​​​​

An excavation in the Cotswolds to find evidence of an Anglo-Saxon burial ground, that was under threat from farming and ploughing.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: REDCAP RECOVERY  |  MARCH 2019

As part of the ongoing archaeological project on Rat Island, in Portsmouth Harbour. In 2019, an excavation utilising personnel from the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) of the Royal Military Police, aimed to further recover human remains under threat from erosion.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: BEOWULF  |  JULY 2018

A return to the Anglo-Saxon burial site at Barrow Clump on Salisbury Plain. This excavation aimed to study the effects of military tracked vehicles on the abundant archaeology in the area.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: SLEEPY HOLLOW  |  JULY 2018

At Barton Farm, on the outskirts of Winchester, is an area that was once used a camp for the Southern Hampshire Militia and later, thousands of German Hessian Mercenaries. This excavation sought evidence of the Hessian Camp prior to new housing development work taking place on the site.

[click image to view the photographic archive]​​​​​​​

RE-CHALKING THE BULFORD KIWI  |  JUNE 2018

During WW1, soldiers from New Zealand were stationed at Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain, prior to deployment in France and Belgium. Soldiers, at the time, constructed a Kiwi out of chalk on a side of a hill close to the Camp. This project aimed to restore and maintain the Kiwi with fresh chalk, delivered by Chinook helicopters.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

EXERCISE: JOAN OF ARC  |  JUNE 2018​​​​​​​

Our second excavation on the Western Front to find further evidence of the first Battle Of Bullecourt (11th April 1917), and the fate of MKII tank #796.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: BEOWULF  |  NOVEMBER 2017​​​​​​​

Part of an ongoing recovery project at Barrow Clump on Salisbury Plain - the site of a 6th Century Anglo-Saxon burial ground.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: CELTIC FESTIVAL  |  JULY 2017

An archaeological excavation to seek evidence of a roundhouse and associated midden at Chisenbury on Salisbury Plain.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

EXERCISE: JOAN OF ARC  |  JUNE 2017​​​​​​​

An archaeological project on the Western Front, in Bullecourt, France. The aim was to locate Lt. Hugh Skinners British MKII tank (#796) that attacked the Hindenburg Line on 11th April 1917.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: MAGWITCH  |  MAY 2017​​​​​​​

A recovery excavation to ascertain that Prisoners who died on moored Prison Hulks (retired ships of the line, late 18th / early 19th century) were buried on the tiny Burrow (Rat) Island in Portsmouth Harbour.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

[CAUTION: Contains Images Of Human Remains]​​​​​​​

EXERCISE: HURAGAN  |  SEPT 2015

During the Battle Of Britain, a Hawker Hurricane flown by a Polish pilot from the infamous 303 Squadron, was shot down north of Brighton on 9th September 1940. This excavation aimed to locate and recover what remained of the aircraft.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

EXERCISE: DIGGING WAR-HORSE  |  SEPTEMBER 2014​​​​​​​

During the First World War, a horse hospital was established near the Fargo Plantation at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain. This project included an archaeological excavation, led by Julian Richards, and a series of community activities and presentations.

[click image to view the photographic archive]

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