Archaeologists want help to get to the bottom of a mysterious mound in north Shropshire
A team from DigVentures is sharpening their trowels and cleaning their buckets before returning to the rolling hills near Wem this summer.
In recent years teams of public and professional archaeological diggers have been digging in a field adjacent to Soulton Hall.
“The site is a proposed ancient monument, but nobody knows what it was,” said Maiya Pina-Dacier, director of engagement at DigVentures. “So we’re digging to find clues and the public can help us with that.”
DigVentures has been a pioneer in funding world-class archaeological digs through the power of crowdfunding and is this year seeking £26,000 to fund this year’s two-week campaign.
“It’s already 60 percent funded,” Maiya said.
You’ve found some tantalizing clues over the last three or four years as to what the site might have been used for. Now the site is just 8 miles from the border with Wales, but things were much more fluid in the 1250s as the imaginary line between the two countries shifted back and forth.
The mansion itself dates back to the 16th century and the surrounding farmland is full of archaeological finds from the Bronze Age, Roman times and the Middle Ages.
Maiya said: “Although it is a protected, planned ancient monument, no one knew why it was there and we were given permission to find out.
“After a week of digging, the evidence emerged: a ditch, a wooden structure, and a solid stone wall.
“As the excavations continued, evidence mounted: a medieval ampoule, a medieval necklace, medieval cups, bowls and jug handles, and a medieval sign, all dating to around 1250.”
They scanned the ground with a geophysical survey and say the evidence points to the discovery of a long-forgotten medieval mansion.
“The results gradually revealed the remains of even more structures and features lying just below the surface.
“It’s not every day that archaeologists discover a long-forgotten medieval mansion, but that’s exactly what our evidence suggests!”
In exchange for contributing to crowdfunding, members of the public can pay to climb into a muddy ditch and scrabble around in search of finds. The finds are kept by the team of specialists and properly documented.
Packages are offered from £10m to £1,375. Members of the public can pay £350 to dig for two days.
Places at DigCamp for 6-12 year olds and DigClub for 12-16 year olds are fully booked, but more places will be available soon.
“No experience is required as we can teach people to dig,” Maiya said. “It could be useful for people of all ages to see if they would like to become an archaeologist.”
Maiya said she would like to see the artifacts found being displayed at a local museum.
