Whether you're local with an interest in local history/heritage, someone with an interest in archaeology or in training to be one, this could be the opportunity for you to further your interest/skills in archaeology.
We at Morecambe Heritage have accumulated a number of finds from our first archaeological excavation that took place in April of 2014. Sorting and processing finds is a long process which involves cleaning each individual item, bagging and recording. We cannot do this effectively without more volunteers involved in the process. We therefore ask if you can spare a little time to come down and help with this process.
Sessions currently run on Saturdays from 11-3pm at Big Storage on White Lund. The following dates are available:
21st of March
28th of March
4th of April
11th of April
We will point out that although the sessions run for 4 hours each there is no obligation to do all for. Simply come when you can for as long or as little as you wish :-)
Remember, if you're local it is part of your local heritage. This gives you a unique opportunity to take an interest in local heritage and even take part in future excavations.
If you're a student or professional in Archaeology, think of it as an opportunity to further your skills in this area, refresh your existing skills or simply take part in an activity you enjoy.
This is also an opportunity to make contact and socialise with people with similar interests.
The 2014 Excavation
The dig took part two weekends in April of 2014 in the garden of the Morecambe Hotel. The Morecambe Hotel was constructed in 1828 as accommodation for visitors and stables. It is thought that it was one of the first places to do so in the area of Poulton-Le-Sands (now Morecambe). Poulton-Le-Sands was one of three hamlets, including Bare and Torrisholme, that have formed a township since the Domesday Book and possibly earlier. It was in the mid 19th century that the area adopted the name Morecambe and grew into a popular seaside resort.
At the Morecambe Hotel a total of 9 test pits were dug in the former beer garden area from which a number of finds were extracted. These are what are currently being processed. The site was once home to a bowling green and an unknown structure appears present on maps from the 1930s covering much of the garden area. It is not yet known what this was or its function. Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.
We know that animal butchery was taking place at some point as well as shoeing of horses. We hope we will have a fuller picture when all the finds have been processed and properly identified.
