Post by wearwolf on Aug 15, 2015 13:50:21 GMT
A North East army reservist has led a historic archaeological dig at the British Army’s largest base which has uncovered Roman and Anglo Saxon artefacts.
Staff Sergeant Matt Starmer is a member of 52 Military Intelligence Company, based in Gateshead, and for the last three weeks has been heading the work within the confines of Marne Barracks at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.
The Army, Historic England archaeologists and forces veterans have been working together to uncover Roman and Anglo Saxon remains there.
Staff Sgt Starmer, 43, served in the Royal Military Police for 23 years before leaving in 2013 but earlier this year joined the Reserves.
“After taking a year out I was missing working in the ‘Green Machine’ and missing the camaraderie so I joined the Reserves,” he said.
“I wanted a new challenge and that’s why I joined the military intelligence branch.”
He said he had been on a dig at Hadrian’s Wall in the spring and when he heard of this dig through the Defence Archaeology Group he put himself forward to help, especially as he would be helping injured soldiers to rehabilitate under an initiative called Operation Nightingale.
Staff Sgt Starmer revealed that during the dig they had unearthed Roman buildings from 370 AD that had been abandoned and within those stone buildings they had found Anglo Saxon bodies from around 550 to 600 AD which had bronze clasps and amber beads.
“This has been such a great opportunity for me and one which I would not have been able to do unless I was in the Reserves,” he said.
“It fits the military covenant and is ideal for the guys rehabilitation as well as military skills.
“For instance, the delicate workings could be transferred to looking for an improvised explosive device.
“It has been so therapeutic for the veterans and it has been so rewarding to watch their faces when they have discovered something new or unearthed a relic from so far in the past.”
The work has been carried by the Army and Historic England in a partnership with the Carillion and Morgan Sindall A1 Leeming to Barton improvement scheme.
Staff Sgt Starmer said that although all the finds have all been meticulously recorded he said his biggest regret was that the trenches they had dug out to reveal the settlement and the remains would be filled in over the weekend as the project comes to a close.
Source - Northern Echo, 15 Aug 2015
Staff Sergeant Matt Starmer is a member of 52 Military Intelligence Company, based in Gateshead, and for the last three weeks has been heading the work within the confines of Marne Barracks at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.
The Army, Historic England archaeologists and forces veterans have been working together to uncover Roman and Anglo Saxon remains there.
Staff Sgt Starmer, 43, served in the Royal Military Police for 23 years before leaving in 2013 but earlier this year joined the Reserves.
“After taking a year out I was missing working in the ‘Green Machine’ and missing the camaraderie so I joined the Reserves,” he said.
“I wanted a new challenge and that’s why I joined the military intelligence branch.”
He said he had been on a dig at Hadrian’s Wall in the spring and when he heard of this dig through the Defence Archaeology Group he put himself forward to help, especially as he would be helping injured soldiers to rehabilitate under an initiative called Operation Nightingale.
Staff Sgt Starmer revealed that during the dig they had unearthed Roman buildings from 370 AD that had been abandoned and within those stone buildings they had found Anglo Saxon bodies from around 550 to 600 AD which had bronze clasps and amber beads.
“This has been such a great opportunity for me and one which I would not have been able to do unless I was in the Reserves,” he said.
“It fits the military covenant and is ideal for the guys rehabilitation as well as military skills.
“For instance, the delicate workings could be transferred to looking for an improvised explosive device.
“It has been so therapeutic for the veterans and it has been so rewarding to watch their faces when they have discovered something new or unearthed a relic from so far in the past.”
The work has been carried by the Army and Historic England in a partnership with the Carillion and Morgan Sindall A1 Leeming to Barton improvement scheme.
Staff Sgt Starmer said that although all the finds have all been meticulously recorded he said his biggest regret was that the trenches they had dug out to reveal the settlement and the remains would be filled in over the weekend as the project comes to a close.
Source - Northern Echo, 15 Aug 2015