While completing the second year of my History degree at Lancaster University, I began weighing up my career options. Since starting my studies, I’ve become really interested in archaeology. So, this past summer, I spent five weeks on placement at an excavation in north-eastern Bulgaria, in a small village just outside of the city of Ruse.

The dig in which I took part was on the site of Trimammium, a Roman fortress on the banks of the Danube. I was one of six British students working at the site as part of Grampus Heritage’s Placements in Environmental, Archaeological and Traditional Skills. This programme gave me the opportunity to work alongside experts from Ruse Regional History Museum and to assist with the excavation of part of a necropolis.

We were very successful. We found and excavated about a dozen graves and discovered several Roman coins, pieces of jewellery and clay vessels. The team of experts took great pride in their work and used every possible opportunity to teach me new skills and encouraged me to get involved wherever possible. The dig made me realise just how much I love to take a hands-on approach to history.

As part of my placement, I also had the privilege to visit many regional historical sites with incredible histories of their own, including the city of Varna, Cherven medieval fortress and the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo – a UNESCO World Heritage Site tucked behind a small railway village! All of these sites seemed to be incredibly well preserved and, in most cases, surprisingly empty of tourists.

(If you should take anything away from this article, it should be to visit Bulgaria, if you haven’t yet. There seems to be an incredible historical site around every corner!)

In any case, my placement was a great experience, and it’s left me wanting to learn more. As I complete my undergraduate degree this year, I am going to find out more about the steps I’ll need to take to pursue a career in archaeology.