Abbey finds for pupil historians

(METP- YOUNGSTERS helped uncover hidden treasures at a school near Peterborough.

A Lottery funded archaeology project took place over the weekend at Abbey College in Ramsey, with pupils helping experts with an excavation of previously unexplored remains of the old Benedictine Abbey on Friday and Saturday.

The abbey was built in 690 AD and the project was trying to uncover more about the history of the building.

Pupils were able to dig in sections of the grounds and uncovered bits of pottery.

Rachel Green, community co-ordinator at the college, said all of the pupils had enjoyed the chance to get their hands dirty.

She said: “This is a culmination of six months’ work with the students.

“They have been learning about the abbey history and we have had visiting lecturers, so this was a great chance to bring it all together in such a practical way.

“The students have all been impeccably behaved and really got into it. They were all very enthusiastic throughout.

“We have found a lot of pottery, with some glazed pieces that have been exciting. We won’t know exactly what we have found until we get them cleaned up and aged.

“We have also found a couple of trenches, one of which we believe was a rubbish pit.”

Digging: Alec Paynter (13) digging in a test pit during an archaeological dig at Abbey College in Ramsey. 18-05-12BD400) Picture: BEN DAVIS.