Time Team is heading to Lincoln this October for a brand new, three-day archaeological investigation from 2 to 4 October.
They will be joining forces with local archaeologists and volunteers, in the search for new evidence of one of medieval England's earliest and largest leprosy hospitals.
The dig marks the beginning of the three-year Hidden Histories Unearthed project made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund that will uncover more of the city’s fascinating past, exploring the remains of the medieval Hospital of the Holy Innocents on South Common.
Founded around the late 11th to early 12th century, the Hospital of the Holy Innocents was one of England’s earliest and largest medieval leprosy hospitals and is believed to have remained in use for around five centuries.
The popular archaeology series will be taking part in an excavation linked to the newly launched Hidden Histories Unearthed project, which aims to uncover more about the people who lived, worked and died at the medieval hospital.
The excavation will take place on the north side of South Common, where the team will investigate walls and possible building surfaces discovered during last year’s Local Landscapes and Hidden Histories project.
More than 100 volunteers, aged between four and 85, took part in the pilot project, excavating 41 test pits across South Common. Their work uncovered evidence including boundary walls, building surfaces and medieval artefacts linked to the former hospital.
The new three-year Hidden Histories Unearthed project will build on these discoveries and delve deeper into the history of the site, exploring the stories of the people who lived, worked and died at the hospital.
The first excavation will see a main trench opened over the area where the remains were discovered last year. Further trenches may also be opened depending on the results of geophysical surveys, while around 10 to 15 test pits are expected to be excavated with the help of local volunteers and Time Team Members on Patreon.
Dr Sam Tipper from Anglia Ruskin University and Professor Carenza Lewis from the University of Lincoln’s School of History and Heritage will act as site directors for the excavation.
Time Team will be based at a temporary dome on South Common throughout the excavation, documenting the dig as the team works alongside volunteers and archaeologists to uncover more clues about Lincoln’s medieval past.
Local people will also have the opportunity to hear directly from the team during a special live recording of the Time Team Podcast at Southside on Saturday 3 October. Hosted by Martyn Williams, the event will bring together members of the Time Team crew and dig partners to discuss how the excavation is unfolding, followed by a live audience Q&A.
The Hidden Histories Unearthed project has received £248,139 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.
Over the next three years, local people will have opportunities to get involved in archaeological excavations, heritage activities, local history events and more as the project continues to explore South Common’s remarkable history.
Cllr Rebecca Longbottom, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council, said:
“It’s fantastic to welcome Time Team to Lincoln and to see this exciting new chapter in uncovering the history of South Common getting underway.
“Last year’s community excavations gave us a fascinating glimpse of what lies beneath the Common, and now we can take that a step further, investigating these discoveries and finding out more about the people and places connected to this important part of Lincoln’s history.
“There is so much potential for this project, and it’s brilliant that local people will be able to get involved alongside experienced archaeologists, Time Team and its Patreon members. This really is just the start of what promises to be a fascinating three years of discovery, learning and community involvement.”
Tim Taylor MBE, Time Team Creator and Series Producer, said:
“Lincoln has an extraordinary archaeological story, and this site promises to give us the opportunity to uncover a fascinating part of it. Last year's work by Dr Sam Tipper (Anglia Ruskin University) provided us with some tantalising clues to the location of the Hospital of the Holy Innocents, one of the earliest and largest leprosy hospitals in England.
"For this investigation, Time Team will be working alongside local archaeological teams, including Hidden Histories Unearthed and Wings of to the Past. The excavation will be led, once again, by Dr Sam Tipper together with Time Team’s Professor Carenza Lewis. We now have three days to piece together the archaeology and reveal what it can tell us about the buildings and the people who lived and died here.”
Dr Sam Tipper, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science at Anglia Ruskin University, said:
“The discoveries made during last year’s Malandry dig gave us some really exciting clues about the Hospital of the Holy Innocents.
“This new excavation gives us the chance to investigate those discoveries in much greater detail and build a clearer picture.
“Having local volunteers involved, alongside Time Team, makes this a particularly exciting opportunity. We’re looking forward to seeing what we uncover together and using those discoveries to help tell the story of this remarkable site.”
Further details about the Time Team podcast at Southside, including ticket information, will be announced soon.
To follow the dig’s progress, follow City of Lincoln Council and Time Team on Facebook.