Diggers discover ancient artefacts

11:01am Tuesday 20th September 2005

AN archaeological dig in Cookham may have already stumbled upon artefacts dating as far back as the Roman period.

The finds were discovered at the site of the Marlow Archaeological Society's MAS Cookham excavation project.

The project, which is taking place on the paddock of Holy Trinity Church, Cookham, found what archaeologists believe to be an early solid structure underground, possibly a road, wall, or even building foundations.

Early signs of the structure were picked up through a geophysical survey, with high levels of resistivity on a computer indicating the structure was present.

This will now be fully excavated by the team before it can be identified.

Pam Knight, fieldwork secretary of MAS, said: "We have just got to the surface of the structure and it is very important that we determine what it is."

The land is owned by the Parochial Church Council, which was thanked by MAS during the project's opening, for allowing them to dig.

The land is also believed to house a former channel of the Thames as well as an old monastery or minster of Cookham which are referred to in old artefacts.

Various finds of pottery were also discovered last week. These could also date back to Roman times.

MAS was given a grant of £22,589 to excavate Cookham as well as land in Marlow which will take place next year.

They are urging anyone to turn up in the village until late September if they wish to help out or simply have a look.