Volunteer or visit an archaeological site
Do you want to learn about the profession of archaeologist by participating in an archaeological excavation site? Do you have a excavation course to do? You only want to visit the site? The list "Volunteer excavation or visit an archaeological site" gives you all the useful information.
Download the list of projects
The 2022 search campaign is coming to an end. There will be no more updates before the next campaign. The 2023 campaign will be put online from March 15 and as and when the site managers request it.
The excavation sites on the list are those that use our site to complement their volunteer teams. This is not an exhaustive list of archaeological sites open to volunteers this year. You will also not find the restoration sites, which are many to welcome amateurs.
Have you found the site that suits you? Don’t delay in applying! The teams are quickly complete.
Participating in a dig site: how to register
The site manager is solely responsible for the physical organization of his excavation (conditions of registration, reception, accommodation, pace of work...) and scientific research proper. It is with him that the registration is made (all the coordinates are in the list).
Unless there is an exception in the list, construction sites are only open to major construction sites.
To participate in excavation sites abroad, contact the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
For open sites in submerged environments, which require a diving certificate, you can contact the Department of Underwater and Underwater Research (Drassm).
As part of their university curriculum, archaeology students can also train with theNational Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) and the preventive archaeology operators.
Didn’t find the right site in our list? Are all the sites on our list complete? Contact your regional archaeological service regional cultural affairs directorate. In all regions, there are construction sites that do not advertise on the Ministère de la Culture website.
The Ministry of Culture is committed to a proactive approach to fight against all forms of inequality, discrimination and violence. It engages and supports measures to promote equality between women and men, but also to prevent and address gender-based and sexual violence.
It is in this capacity that it gives full support to the action of the Archéo-Ethique association and to the project «Paye ta truelle» in their struggle for professional equality and diversity in the field of archaeology and against harassment and discrimination on archaeological sites and in activities related to these sites.
This association has developed, with «Paye ta Truelle», a charter of good conduct aimed at preventing discrimination on excavation sites. This charter, accompanied by an explanatory vademecum, can be adopted by any archaeological site, whether the excavation is planned or preventive.
The list of projects applying this charter will be regularly updated on the basis of the information provided by the association.
To find out about the actions of the Archéo-Ethique association and contact it, you can consult its website in clicking here. The Pay Your Trowel project also has its own official website.
How to place an ad
You’re in charge of a scheduled archaeology operation and you’re looking for diggers for your next construction site? To pass your ad we need the following information:
- name of the site, name of the municipality and department
- construction dates
- nature of the site and chronological period
- the nature of the scientific work planned for this campaign (in a nutshell) and what the diggers will do
- accommodation (lodging, collective, tent...)
- equipment to bring (tent, shoes...)
- conditions to be met (be over 18, be vaccinated, participate in community life, be in good physical condition...)
- possible costs (insurance, participation, etc.)
- registration procedures (CV, cover letter...)
- name of the holder of the authorisation and name of the supervisors, if applicable (with their parent organisation)
- contact for registration (one email)
- an animation photo (it’s not mandatory but it’s better) with a legend and a credit
- will the site be open to visitors? If so, under what conditions?
Forward all this information to regional archaeology service or at the Department of Underwater and Underwater Research that will pass them on to us. We do not publish an ad without SFA or Drassm validation.
When your site is complete, don’t forget to let us know.