Barn Pool Excavations: Barns, Battlefields, and Shoreline Secrets

Discover the hidden history beneath our feet!

This exciting Community Archaeology Project funded by the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, invited people of all ages to get involved in real-life archaeology experiences, including training days, excavations and uncovering local history. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply curious, this was a unique opportunity to engage with the past and learn new skills, all for FREE.

The excavation ran from 27th to 31st August 2025 at the Barn Pool, Mount Edgcumbe.

To get the most enjoyment from the dig on 27th to 31st August 2025 at The Barn Pool, we encouraged you to join one of the four workshops run by The SHIPS Project. Here, volunteers learned all about the project and how you could participate in the archaeological excavation.

This was available for everyone and is inclusive and accessible for all. We organised several training days, with Saturdays reserved for adults (18 and above), on 28th June and 12th July. Sunday courses were organised for families on 29th June and 13th July; ages 12 and above were welcome. The sunday training days were geared towards families and doing archaeology with kids.

The project is run by The SHIPS Project archaeological director Mallory Haas.

Plymouth Sound National Marine Park Page