News

By Ray Duff

The A Town Unearthed' archaeology dig continues on East Cliff as we run through the 15th week of excavations and still provides fascinating information about the areas pre-history especially before the Roman Villas.

It also remains a source of great enjoyment to the many volunteers; including recently another batch of recovering soldiers; who are digging and towelling alongside the professionals daily as almost each layer provides new finds including some quite important ones. The weather has also largely been kind to us and we are hoping that we can get finished before things really become too cold or wet.

Backfilling of the site to ensure it's safety has already begun though, so only part of the Roman Villa walls are still visible but the 'courtyard' area; mainly now Iron Age on one side of the area and into the Stone Age periods nearby; remains open for viewing while excavations continue.

Recent finds have included a complete ceremonial pot next to a hearth; a large 'oven' structure which may have been industrial but remains to be confirmed; a number of late Iron Age chalk floorings; an exquisite blue glass bead with white spiral swirls on it; and just this last weekend an early Iron Age trackway, possibly linking the site to the 'port' area below Copt Point, and related pottery items.

One very intriguing find recently was a small, 2cm long bone, 'peg' like piece, with carved circles on it. As yet no-one is sure what it is. It may have been used for sewing, alongside spindle whirls; or maybe it was part of a gaming board.

Site director Keith Parfitt will be talking at the Folkestone Book Festival about his interpretation of the site so far, as well as Dr Lesley Hardy who will talk about the Roma Villas', mainly, first excavator, Samuel Winbolt in 1924.

It should perhaps be noted though that research by local historian Eamonn Rooney has found that the East Cliff site was suspected to have a roman building of some sort a few years before 1924 when the then curator of Folkestone Museum, Alexander Browne- Anderson found signs of such and applied to dig a trench. One was done but unfortunately Mr Browne Anderson died in late 1923. It appears he had passed the information on the Mr Winbolt though who returned to find the extensive Villas a year later.

Finally the site is still open to visitors, which have now topped 7000 for the year.

'T' shirts and sets of postcards are on sale in the portakabin by the site.

An exhibition of some of the finds from the dig is planned for the Sassoon Gallery at Folkestone Library in December and hopefully further exhibitions, talks and events will also be held.

See website www.atownunearthed.co.uk  for the latest information.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©