Page 29 - link magazine

Swindler Wide 29
Big North Swindon Roman site dig on Groundwell Ridge being planned

Dr Pete Wilson, Senior Archaeologist for English Heritage, describes a major exploration in search of more evidence of the town's
Roman past which will take place this summer, with help from local volunteers
This year, as part of a joint English ernment department to which Eng- unteers involved at any one time. new group. We have a web-site at
Heritage (EH)/ Swindon Borough li sh Heritage is responsible. We As well as opportunities for resi- www.english-heritage.org.uk - fol-
Council (SBC) project, we are ex- need SMC as the site is protected dents to participate there will also low the archaeology link. During
cavating part of one of the build- in law and we have to justify what be places for student trainees who the project there will be an on-site
ings damaged when the site was we propose to do very carefully. want to improve their skills. display and site tours so that those
found by construction workers in We are also applying for a li- We hope to be on site from 9 not directly involved can keep up
1 996. cence to use metal-detectors on June to 25 July. working Wednes- with what is going on. Dates and
The stripping of the housing es- site as part of the project and hope day to Sunday. Before that we are ti mes will be available closer to the
tate road cut a swathe through the once again to be working with the mounting a month long display in dig at North Swindon Library.
centre of a major Roman structure. Wyvern Historical and Metal De- the North Swindon Library from 20 Anyone interested in getting in-
but did not destroy it entirely. The tector Society who scanned the April. volved is asked to contact
area to be excavated includes the spoil heaps and trenches for us On 19 April Swindon Council Groundwell Ridge Excavations,
damaged parts and better-pre- last year. launched `The Friends of English Heritage Centre for Ar-
served features to either side. Assuming we get permission this Groundwell Ridge at the Hayden chaeology, Fort Cumberland,
We believe the building might be will not be a race against time Centre and we hope that the project Eastney, Portsmouth PO4 9LD, or
a bath house, or the bath wing of a rescue' excavation, but a project will develop close links with the mail:[email protected]
larger building. perhaps with a cold that proceeds at the pace that best
plunge bath. We know it had an lets us understand what we find. Half term archaeology at Lydiard
under-floor heating system and The project is conceived as a
probably painted wall-plaster. It Community Involvement initiative, Discover Lydiard Park's hidden past during half term, Tuesday 1 to
also may have had one or more but given the protected status of Friday 4June, when there will be a programme of archaeology activities.
simple mosaic floors. We also hope the site we need to ensure that the On Thursday 3 June there will be a family have ago day' when visitors
to dig a trench across the a possi- work undertaken is to the highest can dig and wash finds, whilst children can excavate in a sandpit.
ble Roman road, perhaps a key possible standards. Details will be available in the June Link or call Lydiard House on
element of the site, the interpreta- Local people will work alongside 770401.
tion of which is currently purely professional archaeologists to get
based on the appearance of the involved in digging and learning Lydiard Project on the web from 1 May
earthworks. archaeological skills. They will also The Lydiard Park regeneration project will be on the world wide web,
We are currently waiting for plan- be able to help with processing the thanks to the involvement of the University of the West of England.
ning permission for our site offices pottery and other finds. Discover more about Lydiard's fantastic history and details of the
and scheduled monumentconsent Due to the need to ensure ad- work now underway to restore, including virtual tours and video se-
(SMC) from the Department of equate supervision it will be nec- quences.
Culture Media and Sport, the gov- essary to limit the numbers of vol- www.lydiardpark.org.uk

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