Shakespeare fans and archaeologists can now join in the exploration of Shakespeare’s last home on-line, in a new website launched by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The brand new website supports the groundbreaking archaeological exploration of New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, which began earlier this month in a bid to reveal new information about Shakespeare’s later life.



www.digforshakespeare.com has been designed to keep potential visitors, as well as Shakespeare fans throughout the world, up to date with the latest news from the archaeological dig at New Place. The website has been created to keep the dig accessible to visitors young and old, incorporating a clip library with the latest footage of archaeologists at work, interviews with experts and volunteers involved in the dig, and background material about what the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is hoping to find.



To keep younger visitors entertained, the site also contains a fun game (http://www.digforshakespeare.com/dig-for-shakespeare), where children can literally join in a virtual dig, playing as an archaeologist digging for Shakespeare goodies in the soil below New Place. Each time they make a find, they are rewarded with a quote from a Shakespeare play – and they can also record their scores in a bid to be the top virtual archaeologist –making a visit to digforshakespeare.com fun, challenging and educational!



“ Dig for Shakespeare really is a whole new visitor experience – people can come down to New Place and watch the excavation as it unfolds, or if they are not local, they can keep up to date with the latest news and blogs from the dig via the new website,” explains Director of the Trust, Diana Owen. “The dig has been a real success with visitors, with many of them are keen to find out about the latest discoveries after their visit to the site. The extent of the dig is changing on a daily basis at the moment and this is the perfect way of letting them know what’s happening.”



The website will be updated every few days, including blogs from the Birmingham Archaeology team - the archaeologists conducting the dig - as well as the army of volunteers who have signed up to lend a hand with the huge task of excavating the site.



The dig, now into its third week, sees archaeologists exploring three key areas of the site where Shakespeare’s final home, New Place, would have stood. Even though it is relatively early days for the dig – which will remain active until September, and open to the public until the end of October – archaeologists have already revealed the brickwork of Shakespeare’s bay window, where he may have gazed out whilst writing one of his later plays. Work is also underway to explore what is believed to be the servants’ yard – an area between the house and the great garden - that possibly housed rubbish or cess pits.



Visitors can walk along a specially constructed platform around the edge of the digs, where they are literally able to look over the shoulders of archaeologists at work and watch as exciting finds are pulled out of the ground – some of which will not have seen the light of day since Shakespeare himself lived there!



The Dig for Shakespeare at New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon is open to the public daily until the end of August, from 11.00am to 5.00pm (last entry 6.00pm during July & August). For more information, please visit www.digforshakespeare.com or call +44 (0)1789 204016.



ENDS



Notes to editors:



The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, founded in Stratford in 1847, is the guardian of the world’s greatest Shakespeare heritage sites, comprising Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Nash’s House & New Place, Hall’s Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden’s Farm. Offering a unique Shakespeare centred experience, The Trust is a truly global brand that has been attracting visitors to the houses since as early as the 17th century.



At the heart of all things ‘Shakespeare’, the Trust is not only at the forefront of academic learning, but also an iconic destination in the UK and the cornerstone of the region’s identity and tourism economy. The five houses offer a multi-layered experience for visitors unlike any other, giving people from all over the world the opportunity to learn about the life of the world’s greatest playwright, discover his work and experience a real sense of the times that influenced him here in Stratford.



The Shakespeare Houses and Gardens are winners of the Gold Award for ‘Best Tourism Experience in the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards 2009.



For further information about the houses, please visit www.shakespeare.org.uk



Birmingham Archaeology is the commercial arm of the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity at the University of Birmingham. It comprises three teams; Birmingham Archaeology Heritage Services, the Visual and Spatial Technology Centre (VISTA) and Birmingham Archaeo-Environmental (BAE). Each of the groups is responsible for the undertaking of commercial projects and services, the development of research projects and the delivery of postgraduate and professional training via taught Masters programmes and Continuing Professional Development workshops.



For further information, pictures relating to this news release and press enquiries please contact:



Jay Commins

PRO Dig for Shakespeare

Tel: 0113 251 5698

Mobile: 07810 546567

Email: jay@fim.org.uk



