TV archaeologist to lead school on treasure hunt (From Bournemouth Echo)

TV archaeologist to lead school on treasure hunt

9:20am Sunday 30th November 2008

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AN ARCHAEOLOGIST known to TV viewers will lead Blandford children in an excavation that could yield treasures from the Bronze Age.

Julian Richards, the presenter of BBC television’s Meet the Ancestors, will help local children get first hand experience of an archaeological dig during a two-week excavation in January.

Architects working on the new Milldown Primary School, on a site adjacent to the Blandford School, have discovered what they believe to be a Bronze Age barrow using an electromagnetic scan.

Mr Richards, whose television credits also include the BBC’s Blood of the Vikings, told the Daily Echo he hoped the dig would spark the interest of youngsters involved.

“It would be nice to find something interesting to raise the profile of archaeology among the children. It will give those involved in the excavation a chance to sort their findings, and to interpret them,” said Mr Richards.

The presenter will supervise students working at the site, including Blandford School sixth-former Daniel Hunt, who has applied to read archaeology and anthropology at Cambridge University.

Daniel has been interested in archaeology since he was nine years old and said the discovery of such an important site in the grounds of his school had been a dream come true.

“To have an opportunity to work alongside people like Julian Richards and Peter Cox is fantastic. I’m studying for exams but I’ll be putting in as much time at the site as I can,” said Daniel.

Luke Winter, the manager of Cranborne’s Ancient Technology Centre, will be on hand to get children involved in digging and building.

“We’re going to build a replica Bronze Age house from coppiced hazel and ash, with wattled walls and a thatched roof, and perhaps a hearth for a fire.

“This should be a chance for the children to get muddy and to learn what life was really like in the Bronze Age,” said Luke.

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