Folkestone's Iron Age dig to resume 21 years on
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Evidence of the importance of Folkestone as an Iron Age site has
been unearthed as part of an archaeological project in the
town.
Work on A Town Unearthed: Folkestone before 1500, has begun at
East Wear Bay.
It is the first time since 1989 that the site has been
excavated.
Exploratory trenches have been dug to the north of the Roman
villa and already evidence of Iron Age and Roman occupation has
been found in the form of ditches filled with pottery, tile and
animal bone.
Andrew Richardson, project manager of archaeology, said: "It is
already clear that a great deal of unexcavated archaeology survives
across the site."
He said one of the most interesting discoveries so far was a
spread of compacted greensand chippings and dust with an unfinished
quern stone, used for grinding corn, on top.
"It has been known for some years that a quern stone industry,
dating to around 2,000 years ago, existed at East Wear Bay, as many
unfinished stones have been found at the site and on the beach
below," said Mr Richardson.
"This find provides conclusive evidence of manufacture of querns
on the cliff top, probably during the first century BC.
"Very few quern production sites have been identified and this
new discovery reinforces Folkestone's position as an
internationally important Iron Age site."
Dig director Keith Parfitt said he was pleased with the
progress.
"We have a really good group of volunteers who have all worked
extremely hard," he said.
"We are all looking forward to starting excavation on the villa
itself."
One of the volunteers Chris Brackin, 22, from Folkestone, said:
"It has been really interesting and often quite exciting as you
never know what you are going to unearth.
"I was lucky to be part of the team that was responsible for the
trench where we found three samian pots and two quern stones."
A Town Unearthed is a community archaeology project.
There will be events over the next three years to help residents
understand their local heritage and become involved in unearthing
and preserving Folkestone's past.
The main project is funded by a £298,700 Heritage Lottery Fund
award and is being led by Canterbury Christ Church University,
Canterbury Archaeological Trust and Folkestone People's History
Centre, supported by the Roger de Haan Charitable Trust, Folkestone
Town Council and Shepway District Council.
The first phase of the excavation at the Roman villa site will
continue until the end of September.
Volunteers are welcome to join, whether it's digging, washing
finds, helping to catalogue them and process the data or showing
people round the site.
To become involved email townunearthed@canterbury.ac.uk
or call 01303 850 614 (24 hour answerphone).
Alternatively visit the site, weekdays and weekends,
between 10am and 3pm to register as a volunteer.
Tuesday, August 24 2010
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