The team, comprising of 20 volunteer and professional archaeologists, spent the 4^th and 5^th July digging a 5 metre trench and several smaller test pits, following a geophysical survey of the field last summer. The initial scan results suggested the land had been home to an Iron Age settlement, showing an enclosure ditch with several internal features clearly visible; prompting the team to return a year later to excavate a small section of the school field, to look for further evidence.

Speaking of the findings, Jennifer Browning of the University of Leicester Archaeological Services said, “We targeted the enclosure ditch and also excavated test pits and have spent a really exciting weekend digging and looking for evidence of Iron Age activity. We’re delighted to say we reached the bottom of the ditch and found lots of items that help show the history of the land – including an array of animal bones, fragments of Iron Age pottery and flint tools. All of this helps us to create a picture of how people were using the land over 2000 years ago and is another important step towards understanding the archaeology of the area.

“We know from years of study, that settlement ditches acted as a kind of rubbish depository, where carcasses were discarded, broken vessels were thrown away and old tools thrown out or lost as their owners crossed the ditch but they also served to keep villages safe from intruders and to act as a barrier for livestock. The base of the Ridgeway ditch was 90cm below the current surface, but when it was first created, over 2,000 years ago, it was likely to have been a much more substantial structure, with the soil from excavating the ditch piled up next to it, forming a bank.”

Thanks to previous archaeological surveys and digs, it is well documented that Iron Age settlements existed under what is now Pochin Drive and Centenary Close, while Roman finds have been discovered in gardens along the Ridgeway and Great Bowden Road. However, this is the first time that archaeology has been found at Ridgeway Primary Academy and the finds are now being cleaned and catalogued by the dig team, along with a soil sample, in which it is hoped to find evidence of plant and animal remains dating back thousands of years.

Bob Gale, Chair of the Oadby and Wigston Field Workers said, “Once we had the map from the geophysical survey in our hands, we knew we’d found something really quite special. Seeing the dark marks of the enclosure ditch and the circles of the houses was really exciting; and when I came into school, to explain to the children in their assembly what was underneath their football goal posts and running track, they couldn’t quite believe it.

“We have spent a lovely few days helping to show them and their parents the finds from their school, as well as other items we have unearthed over the years – including everything from modern day toys buried in the top soil, to giant fossil bones discovered on farm land in Northamptonshire. Seeing their faces light up and the excitement spread is just brilliant!”

Speaking of the dig, Assistant Headteacher, Lucy Millington said, “We have had the most incredible weekend, and can’t thank the archaeology team, headed up by Jen and Bob, enough. Everyone’s knowledge and expertise is incredible and it was so wonderful to be able to open the dig up to the public also. We probably had about 250 people through the gates over the weekend, all excited to know what was beneath their feet. And then on the Monday, all our children were invited out to see the ditch up close and then handle some of the finds – it has been a genuinely wonderful experience and one they’ll never forget.”

The dig weekend formed one of the opening events to the Festival of Archaeology which is running all throughout July in Leicestershire. To find out more, please visit Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology – Leicestershire Fieldworkers