Digging for buried student life
Students Yiling Kong and Hugo Odeberg are working at the same excavation site. Photo: Fatemeh Khudadadi
In the middle of the English Park, students and researchers are unearthing traces of generations of life in Uppsala, layer by layer. An archaeological dig began here in April 2026, and finds such as clay pipes, bones and remnants of student caps tell stories ranging from everyday life and student traditions to the playful parties and fun of bygone days.
“We work with what’s called contemporary archaeology. The idea is to get as close as possible to student life in the past; what students did here but also their teachers, how they used the park in their everyday lives and for teaching. We aim to see what we can actually find in the ground when we use archaeological methods,” says Joakim Wehlin, senior lecturer at the Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Conservation and project manager for the dig.
Joakim Wehlin is holding the so-called ‘treasure trove’ from the excavation. Among the objects is a cockade from a student cap, which he holds up – one of several finds that tell the story of the site’s history. Photo: Fatemeh Khudadadi
Joakim Wehlin is leading the excavation project, which began in early April. Photo: Fatemeh Khudadadi
He shows a box containing all the smaller finds they have excavated during the dig. Among them are clay pipes, a buckle, a small rusty knife and other everyday objects from the last 150 years. Together, they provide a picture of an area that played host to many festivities, public gatherings and student traditions. Joakim Wehlin shows a cockade from a student cap.
“You probably can’t get much closer to the students of the past than this,” he says.
The finds also include animal bones – most likely from cows, pigs, and sheep or goats –singed bones, and slag from smelting iron, which are indicative of much older activities in the area.
Joakim Wehlin talks to Kasper Svedberg, an archaeology student, at the edge of the excavation site, where a pile of excavated soil bears witness to the work currently underway in the trench. Photo: Fatemeh Khudadadi
Education for all ages
The dig in the English Park campus was started in April. The project, which was made possible by a donation from Friends of Uppsala University, forms part of the preparations for the University’s 550th anniversary in 2027. During 2027, the outreach part of the dig will be stepped up, with daily guided tours and a small temporary museum. But the public can already follow the work we’re doing in the area and participate in the dig.
“This is first and foremost an educational dig for our archaeology students, but we’ve also invited school classes and children into the area to try out learning some archaeological skills. It’s also good for our students, who then get to practise talking about archaeology,” says Joakim.
The dig’s activities for the public have been popular.
“Children think it’s great fun and their parents can’t really help but think so too,” says Joakim Wehlin.
Not just a place for university studies
The finds are helping the researchers build a broader picture of how the area has been used over the centuries. According to Joakim Wehlin, the dig also shows that the English Park area has been a place for more than just university studies for a long time.
“It’s not just been about teaching and research. It’s been the site of entertainments and student traditions, parades, manifestations and a whole variety of activities through the generations,” he points out.
Historically, the area has also been used for scientific experiments, sometimes so dramatic that they caused explosions.
“It was after all the chemistry department that was located here from the beginning. And we have photographs of the students going out into the park to do dangerous experiments. It would be awesome if we could find some remnants of those explosions,” says Joakim.
Fatemeh Khudadadi
Joakim Wehlin shows a photo from a demonstration held in the park. Photo: Fatemeh Khudadadi