Post Excavation Assistant - Finds Processing (Multiple roles)

Why join us?

Bringing together leading minds and practitioners in the sector, Wessex Archaeology is a trusted archaeology and heritage service provider and educational charity. From our network of international offices, we work in partnership with our clients to deliver sustainable solutions to manage the historic environment - above ground, below ground and underwater. We are committed to our social impact. This means using the knowledge and connections we make through our commercial activities as a catalyst to engage the communities in which we work.

Join us and you’ll be part of a collaborative team committed to shaping a better future for our staff, the sector, and the world. As well as having knowledgeable and dedicated colleagues, you’ll have an opportunity to access a variety of fascinating and high-profile projects and develop your skills and knowledge along the way.

The role – what’s involved?

You will be joining our finds processing team to process finds from a wide variety of projects and chronological periods. You will be predominantly office-based, though there may be some travel and transportation of finds and archives between our sites and offices and to external specialists, museums, laboratories outside Wiltshire so you will have to be flexible enough to accommodate this.

You will have an interest in archaeological finds and preferably some experience of finds processing and basic identification, although training and development in this as part of the job. You will need to be organised and methodical, able to pay good attention to detail and have good communication skills. You should be happy working both within a team and on your own initiative.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Carrying out finds processing duties (washing (by hand, in water), marking (by hand), basic identification (of material and artefact type), quantification (by count and weight) and cataloguing on SharePoint databases, bagging and boxing, including the preparation of box indices.
• Maintaining information on the Finds, Environmental and Assessment Manager database.
• Moving finds boxes around the processing facility, and to/from other storage locations, museums, external specialists etc. Mechanical lifting aids will be used where appropriate, but some manual handling will be required.
• Helping stock take finds processing and packaging equipment (e.g. bags, boxes, etc)
• Assisting with preparing archives for deposition
• Ensuring that all finds processing follows Wessex Archaeology guidelines or those of the recipient museum as appropriate.
• Maintaining awareness of individual museum requirements for finds recording and packaging
• Maintaining an awareness of current and developing standards and good practice in the treatment of archaeological artefacts

Essential skills, knowledge and behaviours we would like you to have:

• Working knowledge of, basic finds skills (processing, recording and recognition)
• Confidence in using Microsoft packages
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Professional approach to work, colleagues, other professionals, clients and the public
• Good communication skills
• Understanding and knowledge of safe working practices, legislation, regulations and their practical implementation
• Full clean driving licence and willingness to drive company vehicles

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of archaeological periods, theory, and practice
• Knowledge of the methods of archaeological investigation, recording systems and research
• Understanding of the importance and significance of archaeological data

What can you look forward to?

Our focus is on creating a collaborative culture where people can thrive, develop and where safety and wellbeing come first. From anonymising candidate data in our recruitment process to continuous improvements in our benefits, we’re committed to creating a safe, fair, and inclusive working environment.

We offer:

Full details of our benefits package are available on our website.

How to apply:

For all the details about how to apply visit Vacancies | Wessex Archaeology

All applications will be acknowledged within 2 weeks of the closing date. If you have questions about the role, then please contact wa.applications@wessexarch.co.uk.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and aim to be supportive in our recruitment and employment practices. Please let us know via the application form if you need any special arrangements or adjustments in the application or interview process.

Successful candidates must have proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK by the start of their employment.