TIME detectives have been uncovering more clues of ancient settlers in the grounds of a cemetery.

Cookham's own time team have found evidence that wooden ploughs were used in the field at the parish cemetery in Long Lane, Cookham more than 2,000 years ago.

Marlow Archaeological Society, which is running the project, recently discovered a 4,000 year old neolithic knife during the first excavation at the parish cemetery in Long Lane, Cookham.

The blade was used by people living in 2800BC.

Society chairman, Colin Berks, who is leading the dig said: "The lines we have found seem to indicate wooden ploughs which would be pre-Roman.

"The county have a record of an iron age farmstead in the adjacent field and obviously it's possible that this could be associated. You never know what you're going to find.

"This is clearly an agricultural area and this is an alluvian plain which would have been very fertile. People would have farmed here from the late Neolithic era."

Surveys of the field have been conducted using devices such as a magnetometer which measures magnetic variations in the ground.

Colin Berks, chairman of the Marlow Archaeological Society, believes there could a trove of historical treasures waiting to be discovered in the village. He said: " There's been very little excavation in Cookham but the village is very important historically.

"There's lots of local history buried under the ground - there should be masses of stuff and it's a pity it's not being investigated.

"If the objective of the people here is to maintain the character of the area you have got to understand the heritage. In my opinion it's very important."

A Heritage and Archaeology group will be set up later this year as part of the the Cookham Plan review and the excavations have been backed by Cookham Parish Council.

Joy Blake, of High Road, Cookham Rise, responsible for logistics on the site said: " It's really exciting, a bit like detective work and we are hoping to find something like the knife again."

The society is hoping to attract more members to help them with their work. To find out more go to: www.marlowarchaeology.org