Lisa Westcott Wilkins
Founder, DigVentures
DigVentures is a social business designed to increase participation and build advocacy for archaeology, heritage and conservation projects. The DV approach is unique, aligning digital innovation with participatory ‘citizen science’, alternative funding, heritage tourism and the experience economy.
In 2012 their 'Flag Fen Lives' project became the world’s first-ever successfully crowdfunded and crowdsourced archaeological excavation. Since then, DigVentures has raised over £470,000 in crowdfunding and grants to fund archaeological digs in the UK and abroad, and now has a worldwide community of supporters, including professional and amateur archaeologists as well as people from all walks of life who are fascinated by archaeology and the chance to be actively involved in every aspect of the projects.
DigVentures is the only community-focussed Registered Organisation in the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and the first-ever CIfA Accredited Field School.