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Burrough Hill dig reveals 'sizeable' amount of Iron Age artefacts | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Ancient metal artefacts found at a Leicestershire site could go on permanent display, archaeologists say. | |
The dig at Burrough Hill, near Melton Mowbray, has uncovered one of the biggest collections of Iron Age metalwork found in the East Midlands. | The dig at Burrough Hill, near Melton Mowbray, has uncovered one of the biggest collections of Iron Age metalwork found in the East Midlands. |
The finds include spears, knives, iron brooches, reaping hooks and the decorative bronze trim from a shield. | The finds include spears, knives, iron brooches, reaping hooks and the decorative bronze trim from a shield. |
Burrough Hill is the site of an Iron Age fort but no major excavation had taken place there since the 1970s. | Burrough Hill is the site of an Iron Age fort but no major excavation had taken place there since the 1970s. |
'Useful insights' | 'Useful insights' |
The current five-year dig is being run by the University of Leicester. | The current five-year dig is being run by the University of Leicester. |
Dr Jeremy Taylor, the project director, said: "It's certainly a sizeable collection and it's giving us some useful insights. | Dr Jeremy Taylor, the project director, said: "It's certainly a sizeable collection and it's giving us some useful insights. |
"We have excavated a series of houses and storage pits and found about 100 pieces. Many of the finds date from between the 4th and 1st Centuries BC." | "We have excavated a series of houses and storage pits and found about 100 pieces. Many of the finds date from between the 4th and 1st Centuries BC." |
Dr Taylor believes iron was not smelted on the site but he said they have found evidence that blacksmiths at Burrough may have shaped it into the final objects. | Dr Taylor believes iron was not smelted on the site but he said they have found evidence that blacksmiths at Burrough may have shaped it into the final objects. |
He said the site had not been searched for some time. "Burrough Hill is a scheduled monument and, because it hasn't been under threat from development, it's just sat there quietly for about 40 years," he said. | He said the site had not been searched for some time. "Burrough Hill is a scheduled monument and, because it hasn't been under threat from development, it's just sat there quietly for about 40 years," he said. |
The team's final dig will take place in June and July, after which Dr Taylor said he hopes the finds will be exhibited permanently in Melton. | The team's final dig will take place in June and July, after which Dr Taylor said he hopes the finds will be exhibited permanently in Melton. |
"Each year we have a temporary exhibition at Melton Museum and we have been working closely with Melton Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council to create a permanent exhibition," he said. | "Each year we have a temporary exhibition at Melton Museum and we have been working closely with Melton Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council to create a permanent exhibition," he said. |
A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said: "These finds at Burrough Hill by the University of Leicester are of significant importance. | A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said: "These finds at Burrough Hill by the University of Leicester are of significant importance. |
"We would hope that in the future we would be able to display these items locally. " | "We would hope that in the future we would be able to display these items locally. " |