Placement opportunity with YAC: Sophie
June 2026
Here at the Council for British Archaeology, we really enjoy supporting placement students to gain experience working in archaeology and heritage organisations. We are delighted to collaborate with the University of Chester’s Department of History & Archaeology to support their Museums and Heritage Practice MA students. Our recent placement student Sophie tells us about her experience working with YAC HQ, from taking part in an online YAC session to designing a new activity…
Hello! My name is Sophie Nutt, and I am currently  studying for a Master’s degree in Museum and Heritage Practice at the University of Chester.
This month, I was fortunate to complete a work placement with the Council for British Archaeology (CBA). During my placement, I explored some of the Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) activity resources, with the aim of creating one myself.
One of the first activities I completed was the YAC stratigraphy cake activity (Available here!) Â which uses layers of cake to introduce the archaeological principle of stratigraphy. I really enjoyed how creative and accessible the activity was, and I used this as inspiration for the creation of my own activity pack. More information about my competition of this activity can be found on the CBA Instagram account (@archaeologyUK).
During this placement, I also had the pleasure of speaking with Youth Engagement Officer Rachel Bishop about the Wales Online YAC sessions, even attending a fabulous textiles session myself. Hearing feedback from Rachel about the kinds of activities requested by YAC leaders gave me valuable insight into how resources are created to support clubs and volunteers working directly with young people.
I have now completed the creation of my own resource pack, focused on the Spanish Armada, combining history, craft and experimental archaeology. Using materials such as plastic bottles, lollipop sticks and string, participants can build a model ship before testing whether it could float, carry cargo and move through water.
Alongside the practical side of building a ship (see left!), the activity explores the history of the Spanish Armada of 1588 and encourages participants to think about how archaeologists study shipwrecks today. I particularly liked how the activity encourages problem solving and experimentation. Even the smallest adjustments to design can affect the balance of the ship in water, which made me think about the challenges sailors and shipbuilders would have faced in the past.
You can download the activity here.
One of the things I have enjoyed most during this placement is seeing how archaeology can be communicated in creative and interactive ways. Activities like these make archaeological concepts feel much more approachable and encourage participants to think critically about the past their experimentation and investigations. Completing these YAC activities has given me a greater appreciation for the role of public engagement within archaeology and the importance of creating resources that make heritage accessible, enjoyable and inspiring for younger audiences.
Working with the team at CBA, especially Jo Kirton, provided me with consistent guidance and support throughout this placement and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to CBA’s work in engaging more young people in archaeology in a way that is interesting, accessible and enjoyable for all.
Thank you to everyone at CBA for having me!