Post by UKarchaeology on Sept 28, 2015 23:00:30 GMT
Work to uncover the remains of a Roman site beneath Sleaford is due to get under way.
The Old Sleaford Heritage Group began a test-dig last year on an undeveloped piece of land at Old Place, Boston Road, in an effort to find the site of an old fountain known to have been on the land before the area was redeveloped in the 1980s.
But when the team dug deeper they uncovered what they now know to be an undisturbed Roman site, finding evidence of a Roman settlement and medieval building work.
Although the team is unable to disclose the details of its findings, a spokesman for the group told the Target they are "very exciting".
And now, a full two-week archeological dig has been made possible after the group was given a £56,700 grant by the Heritage Lottery Funding, which will also fund a two-year programme of research into the site which is believed to have played a key role in the history of old Sleaford.
Dale Trimble, chairman of the Old Sleaford Heritage Group, said: "This part of Old Sleaford is rich in evidence of Iron Age, Roman and later occupation and this bit of land is one of the last areas available for excavation.
"Test pits were dug in May and revealed evidence of both medieval building and Roman settlement.
"Now we have funding in place, thanks to the HLF, we hope to start excavating in late October and expect to be on site for about two weeks.
"Without the grant we wouldn't be able to do this – we've managed some small projects, but something on this scale just wouldn't have been feasible without it."
The grant will pay for professional archaeologists to work alongside the group's in-house team, and will help to fund specialist tools and equipment for the volunteer members of the team.
"We intend to project manage the dig ourselves and aim to train our volunteers in all aspects of the process involved in an excavation.
"We are a community group who want, at every stage of the project, as much involvement as possible by our members and other like-minded groups," added Mr Trimble.
"We are relying on them to help at every stage of the process, from this early research and organising phase through to the dig itself and on to the post-activity writing and reporting on the project that will be added to documentation already in existence."
The dig will be managed from the group's new headquarters in Navigation Yard.
After the dig is complete the group will undertake a research project, and the findings will be published in an academic paper and a more accessible booklet.
Councillor Stewart Ogden, who has executive board oversight of heritage at North Kestven District Council, said: "It is wonderful to see this group bring its archaeological finds into the heart of Sleaford where a wider group of people can see, experience and understand some essential aspects of the town's extensive social and industrial heritage."
(source: www.sleafordtarget.co.uk/Sleaford-heritage-group-digs-deep-Roman-site/story-27845462-detail/story.html )
The Old Sleaford Heritage Group began a test-dig last year on an undeveloped piece of land at Old Place, Boston Road, in an effort to find the site of an old fountain known to have been on the land before the area was redeveloped in the 1980s.
But when the team dug deeper they uncovered what they now know to be an undisturbed Roman site, finding evidence of a Roman settlement and medieval building work.
Although the team is unable to disclose the details of its findings, a spokesman for the group told the Target they are "very exciting".
And now, a full two-week archeological dig has been made possible after the group was given a £56,700 grant by the Heritage Lottery Funding, which will also fund a two-year programme of research into the site which is believed to have played a key role in the history of old Sleaford.
Dale Trimble, chairman of the Old Sleaford Heritage Group, said: "This part of Old Sleaford is rich in evidence of Iron Age, Roman and later occupation and this bit of land is one of the last areas available for excavation.
"Test pits were dug in May and revealed evidence of both medieval building and Roman settlement.
"Now we have funding in place, thanks to the HLF, we hope to start excavating in late October and expect to be on site for about two weeks.
"Without the grant we wouldn't be able to do this – we've managed some small projects, but something on this scale just wouldn't have been feasible without it."
The grant will pay for professional archaeologists to work alongside the group's in-house team, and will help to fund specialist tools and equipment for the volunteer members of the team.
"We intend to project manage the dig ourselves and aim to train our volunteers in all aspects of the process involved in an excavation.
"We are a community group who want, at every stage of the project, as much involvement as possible by our members and other like-minded groups," added Mr Trimble.
"We are relying on them to help at every stage of the process, from this early research and organising phase through to the dig itself and on to the post-activity writing and reporting on the project that will be added to documentation already in existence."
The dig will be managed from the group's new headquarters in Navigation Yard.
After the dig is complete the group will undertake a research project, and the findings will be published in an academic paper and a more accessible booklet.
Councillor Stewart Ogden, who has executive board oversight of heritage at North Kestven District Council, said: "It is wonderful to see this group bring its archaeological finds into the heart of Sleaford where a wider group of people can see, experience and understand some essential aspects of the town's extensive social and industrial heritage."
(source: www.sleafordtarget.co.uk/Sleaford-heritage-group-digs-deep-Roman-site/story-27845462-detail/story.html )