17 June 2009
Bristol Evening Post
Students from Bristol University excavated archaeological remains from the grounds of Berkeley Castle and uncovered an early form of recycling. The team were involved in a research project which has been running since 2005.
Among their discoveries were Roman bricks, medieval tombstones and glass which had been re-used to create foundations and drain linings for other building work. A treasure trove of artefacts were also uncovered, including Anglo Saxon coins, dress hooks and buckles, as well as Roman coins.
The students were working under the supervision of Professor Mark Horton and Dr Stuart Prior, both TV presenters as well as academics at the university. Professor Horton is head of archaeology and a member of the team on the BBC programme Coast. Dr Prior is a regular on Channel 4's Time Team.
Professor Horton said: "It is so exciting to be doing such a major project at Berkeley. Every day reveals something completely new and unexpected and we are able rewrite the history of the castle, the town and its Anglo Saxon antecedents."
This year the project has spread out from the castle grounds to areas such as Nelme's Paddock, the Edward Jenner Museum garden, St Mary's Churchyard and even the beer garden of the Berkeley Arms
The paddock is the biggest area of excavation and Professor Horton identified a suite of medieval buildings there, with a central hearth and series of small rooms.
He said: "These could be medieval workshops as we have found evidence of industrial activity, but we've also found pottery, which indicates some residential use as well."
The team also found what appeared to be a cobbled street. Work to build Berkeley Castle started in 1117 and was the scene of the murder of Edward II in 1327. It was besieged by Cromwell's troops in 1645 and today is still the home of the Berkeley family.
The aim of the dig is to build up a detailed picture of the history and archaeology of the castle and Berkeley town. Summer school students from the university are expected to form the next excavation team and further groups will continue with the work in 2010.
