Exciting trip back in time (From Witney Gazette)

Exciting trip back in time

3:34pm Thursday 30th November 2006 in Witney By Rosalind Miles

CHILDREN have been digging up the secrets of the past.

Pupils at Stanton Harcourt school have discovered fossilised shells, iron nails, Second World War camouflage tiles, wattle from medieval times, Anglo-Saxon pottery, and a coin from Edward the VII's time.

A total of 26 students, aged five to eight, have been excavating an area of the school playing field, with the help of archaeologist Robin Brunner-Ellis.

As reported in the Gazette, Mr Brunner-Ellis recently discovered the sacred landscape of Oxfordshire - of how the landscape had been shaped by the Anglo-Saxons to communicate with their Gods.

He said: "The children are learning how to get information from objects to build up a picture of how people lived in the past.

"What they really want to do is to dig and dig and dig, but they are being taught they must be patient, and go layer by layer. It's been very exciting for them.

"They have really been enjoying themselves."

The area which was dug up is to be turned into a vegetable garden for the school once the young archaeologists have finished their project, called The Ground Beneath our Feet.

For more information about the project, see www.stanton-harcourt.oxon.digitalbrain.com, and to find out more about Mr Brunner-Ellis's discoveries, see www.goodmarketing.org.uk/ sacredlandscapes