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New group will be digging into Stratford’s past




FOR those interested in getting their hands on history, a newly formed archaeological society could be the key to unlocking a journey into Stratford’s past.

South Warwickshire Archaeological Society (SWAS) was created month and is already involved in an exciting project at the historic Ettington Park Hotel.

New archaeological group is digging into Stratford's past.
New archaeological group is digging into Stratford's past.

Julian Amos and Lee Baylis, joint founders, said they are on the lookout for new members to join them as they travel back in time to explore the wealth of archaeological sites waiting to be discovered and preserved for generations to come.

“The thing that’s really exciting about the Ettington project is that within a ten-mile radius there are 388 known sites of interest which includes 113 Roman sites, 21 Anglo Saxon, 37 Iron Age, 33 Bronze Age, 10 Mesolithic and 15 Neolithic. Pottery, Roman coins and shards of flint dating back 2,000 years have already been found on the site,” Julian said.

Both Lee and Julian are Warwickshire-based – Julian in Hatton and Lee in Rugby – and it’s their intention to concentrate projects in areas just south of Stratford

“Lee is a professional archaeologist of ten years, while I’m the historian, researcher and writer,” Julian told the Herald. “So far we’ve set up a number of meetings and presentations to local groups and are inviting new members to join us. We’ve already established that the area around Ettington Park has been used by every era imaginable because it is close to the river, provided food and transport and was easily defended. We’ve only just started but Lidar images [created using laser] suggest there’s far more out there waiting to be unearthed.”

Lee has built up an impressive collection of artefacts including pots, vases, rings and arrow heads and ornaments which the public can have free access to thanks to the SWAS portable museum which is heading out on the road to villages for talks and presentations.

“What we are trying to do is preserve our history in south Warwickshire and make archaeology more accessible to everyone, even if they’ve never been on a dig before,” said Julian.

For more information, visit www.southwarwickshirearchaeologicalsociety.co.uk.



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