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Archaeology

From casualty evacuations to historic ruins: ready for anything in Belize 

A member of the training team, wearing military uniform, is strapped horizontally into a flying helicopter. The photo is taken from inside the helicopter and the sea is visible through the windows.

Facilitating military training anywhere in the world is an important job. The primary role of DIO (Belize) Range Control, Wardens and Tracker teams is providing a safe place to train and working with exercising units to ensure that military training …

Operation Nightingale: Digging Band of Brothers

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Archaeology, D-Day 80, Operation Nightingale
A group of people are kneeling by a dig out in the ground. A black bucket is seen and the workers are looking at archaeology site.

Defence Infrastructure Senior Archaeologist Richard Osgood led an Op Nightingale Dig at a site in Aldbourne, Wiltshire which has significant links to the preparations for the  D-Day landings. The dig, which aligns with the 80th anniversary year of D-Day landings, …

Year in review: What DIO has achieved in 2023

A large group of people standing on a chalk image carved into the side of a hill.

It’s been a busy year for us at DIO. From supporting the Coronation of King Charles III to supplying more than 20,000kg of turkey to Armed Forces personnel over Christmas, our teams have been working hard to help our Armed …

Revolutionising our management of heritage on the Defence estate

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Archaeology, Defence Estate, Historic environment
DIO archaeologist Guy Salkeld is pictured in front of a trench under excavation at Flower's Barrow on Lulworth Trainingn Area. He is smiling enthusiastically.

The MOD has a rich and diverse historic environment on its UK and overseas estate, containing many thousands of historic buildings and archaeological sites. As the guardian of these valuable heritage assets, DIO is responsible for their stewardship, a key …

Excavating a 2,500-year-old Iron Age hill fort

Two men kneel on the ground next to a shallow trench. One, wearing a light red hoodie, is placing an item into a bucket. The background is foggy.

A team of archaeologists and volunteers has just finished excavating part of a 2,500-year-old Iron Age hillfort on Lulworth Training Area. The impressively sited Flower’s Barrow hillfort is sadly being lost to the sea due to coastal erosion due to its …

Year in review: reflecting on the challenges and successes of 2020

It has been a busy and challenging year for DIO. In addition to supporting the government’s wider COVID-19 relief efforts, we continued to deliver on a range of key projects and programmes for our customers and staff throughout the UK and abroad. Let’s look back at some of the year’s main achievements.