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Archive 2003 |
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published on 24 June 2003 Ready to reveal our Roman past English Heritage experts have started digging to unearth Swindon's ancient past at a buried Roman complex. A team of archaeologists began the five-week dig today into the hidden treasures at Groundwell Ridge. The 13-strong team, from the English Heritage Centre for Archaeology in Portsmouth, is hoping the project will unravel some of the mystery that still surrounds the site, which dates back to 100AD. Five trenches will be excavated and examined. The biggest will measure 15 square metres - which is the equivalent to half the size of an average basketball court. Project director David Hunter, 35, said the Abbey Meads site was a fantastic example of Roman archaeology. "The lumps and bumps on the ground are amazing, as they indicate that the Roman remains are just under the surface," he said. "Each trench will differ in length according to what we find, and we will dig only as deep as we need to. "In some places the trench might be just a few inches deep. We are not going to remove anything substantial. Previous work on the site has suggested there could be a religious sanctuary underneath, while other archaeologists say it could just be a Roman villa. "There are fine examples of both types of site in the south-west but only further excavation can show which existed at Groundwell Ridge. The project will help to refine our understanding of what really is down there." The site was discovered in 1997 when contractors uncovered the buried walls of Roman buildings. Two local archaeologists, Bryn Walters and Bernard Philips, investigated the site and found it comprised complex buildings, a hypocaust - a system of under-floor heating, usually part of a Roman bathhouse - walls covered with painted plaster and a managed water supply. Valued at £1 million, the site was saved from developers by an Evening Advertiser campaign. English Heritage came up with its largest ever grant - £854,000 - to add to £100,000 from Swindon Borough Council to buy the land from the developers. Meanwhile, television crews are preparing to start filming at the site this weekend. See tomorrow's Evening Advertiser to find out more about Channel 4's Time Team investigations as part of its nationwide Big Dig. Back to 2003 index |
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