Archaeological digs at Smarden

Village digs deeper to discover hidden past
4 September 2008
Kentish Express

SMARDEN'S hidden history is about to be unearthed. More than 20 teams of amateur archaeologists will be descending on the village this weekend hoping to uncover some historical secrets in what is being called The Big Smarden Dig. Organiser Alex Ferris said: "This all began about three years ago when English Heritage came to Smarden and took village children out for some fieldwork. They picked up about 400 historical artefacts in a ploughed field."

This led to curious English Heritage experts to examine a map of the village to try and ascertain what it may have once looked like. Mr Ferris continued: "There has long been this unproven theory the Romans were here. In the parish, people are starting to find iron workings which are Roman. That rewrites the history books in a way because old history books tell you that nobody lived here then."

The groups, mainly comprising Smarden schoolchildren and parents, will be overseen by Carenza Lewis, from the department of archaeology at Cambridge University and a former member of Channel 4's Time Team. Mr Ferris added: "We will also have a pottery expert from Sussex University. The school will be the place where finds will be brought back."

The digs - mini test pits 3ft wide and 3ft deep - will mainly be located in 15 gardens of homes situated opposite the Chequers pub. Mr Ferris said: "We will try to trace the village's development from medieval and perhaps even Saxon times. If we find anything Roman, that's a bonus. We're most likely to find medieval artefacts. Someone in the village has already found some coins."