EXCAVATION work on the outskirts of Churchinford has revealed evidence of iron smelting dating back 2,000 years.
The project, involving teams from Oxford University’s Royal Laboratory for Art History and Archaeology and Somerset County Council, investigate an ancient iron working site found by landowner Andrew Crabb.
Community archaeologist Marc Cox said: “We dug five small trenches, unearthing evidence of industrial iron smelting dating back 2,000 years to the Roman period.
“Work has now started to undertake scientific analysis of the materials retrieved in order to better understand how this important technology flourished on the hills.”
Children from Hemyock Pre-School and Primary School took part in workshops during the excavation, which is part of the Blackdown Metal Makers project, supported by a £21,700 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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