Booking information

Free

This activity is part of the South Tyneside's Community Page programme.

Up to 12 people

Description

JAM officially reopens the archaeological investigations around the Jarrow monastic site for the first time since the 1960s, when Professor Dame Rosemary Cramp led excavations at both the Jarrow and Wearmouth monasteries. Finds from these digs are what established the original museum in Jarrow Hall House in the 1970s, which then expanded as Bede’s World in 1993 before becoming the Jarrow Hall we know today in 2016. The museum is honoured to be able to reopen the excavations in Jarrow, continuing the legacy of the late Dame Rosemary Cramp and beginning a new cycle.

Signing Up for this event means you're signing up to help us process finds! you'll be working with archaeologists and museum staff to wash, categorise and record the finds recovered during our 2026 season.

This event is for people 16+

Anyone in attendance under the age of 16 will be asked to leave.

If you would like to encourage a young person in your life under the age of 16 to get involved with Archaeology at Jarrow Hall, look for the Young Archaeologists Club over at the Jarrow Hall website.

In May 2025 Groundwork South & North Tyneside was awarded £249,188 from the The National Lottery Heritage Fund to launch the Jarrow Archaeological Mission (JAM) at Jarrow Hall.

In September 2025 we dug into this second round of excavations, led by Research, Learning and Education Manager Dr. Marco Romeo Pitone and Archaeology Coordinator Lucy McLay, to explore the previously omitted area of Drewett’s Park. Phase 1 of our dig lasted four weeks, during which we were joined by local community groups, residents, students, Route2Work learners and volunteers who helped us on site to uncover layers of Jarrow’s history. Digging wrapped up at the end of September with finds from Season 1 being further analysed and processed throughout the less excavation-friendly months.

In 2026 we are returned to Drewett's Park for a longer season to investigate the tantalising glimpses into Jarrows' historic past which were uncovered in the 2025 season. This involved both continuing excavations to investigate a number of features uncovered in the previous season so as to understand more about the Social History of Jarrow and the Old Jarrow Village. We also excavated deeper to find the historic deposits described by Professor Dame Rosemary Cramp, and determine the scope of the potential Anglo-Saxon and Medieval activity which once took place in the area of the park.

Where's this event hosted?

Location

Jarrow Hall, Jarrow Hall Church Bank Jarrow, NE32 3DY

Where it's happening:

Jarrow Hall