Marlovians are being urged to show their support for an archaeology project that could reveal the town’s origins.

The Marlow Archaeological Society (MAS) is calling on residents to back its bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which could help to unearth prehistoric remains from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages on Low Grounds Farm, near Pound Lane.

Investigations by the MAS in 1999 revealed evidence of Mesolithic mortuary enclosures, a Neolithic tannery and Bronze Age burial barrows on the site, potentially making it the earliest known settlement in Marlow.

Peter Borrows, who heads up the MAS, said earlier this year that plans to investigate the remains hit a “snag” because acceptable terms of entry onto the site had not been agreed by the landowner, the Environment Agency (EA) – which has been working on the site as part of its Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme – and the society.

The lack of agreement meant that the society lost out on funding for the project from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) at the time, and, according to Mr Borrows, is now facing significant additional costs as a result which it is hoping to cover by again trying to secure funding from the HLF.

The Marlow Flood Alleviation Scheme includes a flood compensation reservoir to provide storage for water that would otherwise have flooded properties in the Pound Lane area.

Mr Borrows said: “Spoil from the Environment Agency’s excavations for the reservoir has been spread over the area occupied by the archaeology, to a depth greater than two metres in places.

“This will make our investigation more difficult and more costly, and can only be accomplished with financial support.

“The HLF place great store on community engagement and for this bid to be successful, it is crucial to demonstrate support from the community in Marlow.

“Without this, our bid could fail and the opportunity lost to learn about our town’s origins.”

He added: “This is a very important site in Marlow, but as well as having significance for Marlow, it could also be significant nationally.

“Getting the support of local organisations and local people will be crucial to the success in getting a grant.”

Speaking about the impact of not getting a grant due to insufficient public support, Mr Borrows said: “We would never know what the significance of the barrows for Marlow. We would have no evidence to show who was there, when they were there and what they were doing.

“It is an important piece of Marlow’s history.”

EA spokesman Sue Veal said: “The Marlow Flood Scheme will benefit 287 properties in Marlow and the surrounding areas over the next 100 years.

“We are working with the local planning authority and County Archaeologist, in line with guidance from Historic England, meaning the archaeological features will be secured for the future.”

To support the project, email Mr Borrows at peterborrows@gmail.com.