Military vets uncover the past on Salisbury Plain
It's part of Operation Nightingale, aimed at helping vets wellbeing
Former military personnel have been discovering the past at an archaeological dig on Salisbury Plain.
The dig was part of Operation Nightingale, which aims to help wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans by getting them involved in archaeological investigations.
It took place at Avon Camp, a 7th century burial site from the Anglo-Saxon age.
Richard Osgood is the Head Archaeologist for Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Over the years, they’ve discovered 55 burials at the site, where people have been buried with things such as bone combs, spindle whorls and 7th century knives.
Operation Nightingale has been helping veterans since 2011.
“For them, I think it’s a case of concentrating hard, being a part of a friendship group, making discoveries, giving them a sense of space and hopefully improving their own state of mind in many ways,” Richard said.
He added: “These are challenges that for some of them have gone on for many years.”
Richard also stated that Western Europe has some of the best archaeological landscapes in the world, making working with the MOD a dream job.
“For me it’s the thrill of being able to touch the past,” he said, “It’s that tangible element of history that thrills me.”