AN archaeology group is inviting people to visit an upper dale dig which may have uncovered a pre-Roman era building.
Excavations at Well Head, in Holwick, by volunteers from Altogether Archaeology are revealing more about two medieval buildings and another structure that is currently a mystery.
The work at Holwick follows a survey of the area last May which revealed a number of buildings, and a later excavation of a medieval longhouse in September.
Field supervisor Martin Green said only a small fraction of what is under the earth at Well Head had been excavated last year.
The latest dig, which is partly funded by Northern Heartlands, has revealed another medieval house close to the one discovered last year.
Mr Green said: “We found it had a flagstone floor and it is a much more complex building. The threshold stone is quite worn so it was a very well used building.”
He added that it might have belonged to someone of a higher status than the longhouse that was uncovered last year. Three rooms have been discovered, including an area that might have been for animals. A second medieval structure being excavated has the archaeologists scratching their heads about what it was, or what it was used for.
Mr Green said: “This looks like something different. We are not sure what it is.
“Whether this is a house or what it is, we don’t know. It is obviously not a longhouse, so it could be something earlier.”
Professional archaeologist Paul Frodsham, who is working with the group, added: “I am not convinced it is a building – it could be a yard.”
However, it is a third dig that holds the most fascination. It is some distance away from the others and, so far, a circular, or curved, structure is emerging.
Altogether Archaeology chairman Tony Metcalfe said circular buildings were erected before the Roman occupation of Britain.
He added: “We do not know what it is yet. It is quite exciting working on something that you don’t know what it is.
“Literally every half hour we are finding something. It is definitely a manmade structure and it appears to be earlier than the others, but we have no evidence of that. As time goes on we will find out more.”
Mr Metcalfe said soil samples would be taken from under stones to get an idea of the age of the structure and any items found at the dig could be sent for carbon dating at Durham University’s laboratory.
It could prove an expensive exercise – each soil sample costs about £150 and carbon-dating can cost between £300 and £500, he said.
The group plans to hold a public gathering later in the summer to reveal their findings.
