Veterans Dig Up History on Salisbury Plain in Groundbreaking Defence Project
Military veterans are unearthing ancient secrets at Salisbury Plain Training Area, showing Defence Minister Dr Andrew Murrison exactly what makes their archaeological work so vital.
Operation Nightingale: Healing Through History
The vets are part of Operation Nightingale, an award-winning scheme where wounded, injured, and sick service personnel join archaeological digs across the Defence estate. This time, they’re delving into Boles Barrow, a Neolithic burial mound.
Guided by experts from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and partner groups, including private 123, these digs offer veterans a chance to heal while bringing history to light.
Protecting the Past with Modern Tech
The Boles Barrow excavation is also testing a protective meshing programme DIO has run for over a decade on Scheduled Monuments. The aim? To see how well this technique safeguards fragile sites from damage caused by burrowing animals.
Minister Backs the Cause
“It was great to meet the veterans taking part in this innovative and award-winning programme,” said Dr Andrew Murrison, Minister for Defence People and Veterans. “Using archaeological excavations to help veterans and allow them to spend time together has clear benefit and this is a programme I wholly support.”
Digging for Answers to the Past and Present
“Explaining Operation Nightingale and its success to the Minister was a pleasure,” said Richard Osgood, DIO Senior Archaeologist and excavation leader. “We hope the Boles Barrow dig will deepen our understanding of Salisbury Plain’s Neolithic landscape. So far, it has proven our protective mesh methods work well against site damage.”
The dig, which began on 20 March 2023, has already uncovered flint tools, a Roman coin and pot rim, plus some large sarsen stones. This blend of ancient finds tells a rich story stretching back thousands of years.
