Bradstow School held their third annual Dig for Two days event for local schools in their grounds at Broadstairs  on the 21st and 22nd of June this year. This year the activities had a  Roman theme and the Trust team ran a Dig and Discover zone based on the Roman archaeology of Thanet.

We setup two dig zones in our marquee and found ourselves a Roman to help organise the groups as they arrived.

Aspiring young archaeologists were introduced to the artefacts and objects that might be found at the excavation of a Roman site in Thanet before tackling their own excavation of a Roman pit to see what the could Dig and Discover about the Romans.

Among the finds were pottery, coins, animal bones and Oyster shells. Sea cobbles used in local buildings were also in the pit, along with Roman tiles, which we all learned the names for  – Tegula and Imbrex. We also learned the word for Roman mosaic tiles – tessarae!

With a new group arriving every 25 minutes and sometimes two groups at once, it was a pretty intense couple of days. Each group already knew so much about archaeology and the Romans and asked excellent questions that it made the whole event very rewarding for all of us that took part.

The Roman theme will continue next year for Dig for Two Days 2013, more Roman soldiers,  more shops, more Roman activities…hope we’ll see you there.