The Defence Archaeology
Group / Operation Nightingale was founded in 2012 to utilise both the technical and social aspects of
field archaeology in the recovery and skill development of soldiers injured in
the conflict in Afghanistan.
There is a close
correlation between the skills required by the modern soldier and those of the
professional archaeologist. These skills include surveying, geophysics (for
ordnance recovery or revealing cultural heritage sites), scrutiny of the ground
(for improvised explosive devices or artefacts), site and team management,
mapping, navigation and the physical ability to cope with hard manual work in
often inclement weather conditions.
You can read more about
Op Nightingale at the Defence Archaeology Group by clicking here.
It is perhaps not widely
appreciated that the founding fathers of much of modern archaeology were senior
figures within the British army including Lt-General Pitt Rivers, Brigadier
Mortimer Wheeler, Col TE Lawrence, and O.G.S Crawford to name but a few.
Meanwhile, many of those who grew the discipline in the post-War world of
university expansion and Rescue Archaeology learnt many of their skills in
uniform.
With the inherent skills
of the infantryman; an appreciation of landscape, topography and deposits in
the ground as their lives depend upon it, it is less of a leap of faith to
think that archaeology might be a discipline perfect for soldiers.
On this basis, the
Defence Archaeology Group derived from a conversation between Richard Osgood,
Senior Historic Advisor within the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) of
the Ministry of Defence and Sergeant Diarmaid Walshe of 1st Battalion, The
Rifles.
Sergeant Walshe, (who is
responsible for the medical care and treatment of the soldiers, including
injured personal returned from operations overseas), identified a growing need
for some form of occupational therapy and recovery. As an archaeologist himself he recognised that
archaeology had many elements that could help address some of the complex needs
of these soldiers and addressing the ailments that they were exhibiting.
Since 2012 many projects
have been undertaken both in the UK and overseas – and indeed, excavations at
the Waterloo battlefield are being spear-headed by the group this summer
We provide insurance
services to the group and contribute to their ‘travel’ fund and we take a very
keen interest in all of their activities.
Please show your support
by clicking here to view their website and ‘liking’ their various profiles on
social media – this way we can help Sergeant Walshe and his team feel the love!
Call me to discuss your
insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983
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