The launch of Weobley’s Big Dig archaeological project was a full house of 100 at the Hopelands Village Hall on Saturday, April 15, where County Archaeologist Tim Hoverd set out plans for up to 25 exploration pits in gardens around the castle and core medieval village area.
The dig, June 3-11, would be the biggest such community project he had undertaken, Mr Hoverd explained.
A neat one metre square pit, excavated to a depth of a metre or so to reach ‘sterile’ subsoil, reveals what had been grown, constructed or thrown away over the centuries. “Archaeology is rubbish,” Mr Hoverd said, explaining that the social environment of the village at different times could be learned by examining what had been discarded.
Weobley & District Local History Society, which has secured a £10,000 Heritage Lottery grant to fund the professional archaeological team, has a list of 70 volunteers to be involved in careful excavating, cleaning artifacts and logging them with their location and depth. Young people from Weobley schools and Scouts are taking part.
To volunteer for all or part of the week or to find out more, email project manager Roger Burrage WeobleyHistorySociety@gmail.com
