Ask the archaeologist!

Be First is calling on local residents who want to know more about the archaeological excavations in progress at Marks Gate, to pose their questions in a special online interview with the archaeologists.

The council’s regeneration organisation has been carrying out a number of surveys and archaeological excavations since November when the council granted planning permission for new affordable homes on the land adjacent to the A12. The digging got underway while the plans are being considered by the Mayor of London.

The aim is to help progress the design of the new homes and ensure that any archaeological remains are salvaged.

The only find so far is a small fragment of what might be Saxon pottery on the site (pictured above). This is being examined by a pottery specialist and the archaeologists hope to have a better idea of how old it is and how it was used in the past. The initial view is that it might have been part of a cup or bowl.

However, there have been no other significant finds so far and the archaeologists have said they want to do more investigations in the week commencing 18 January. They will dig four more deep pits to look for anything of interest.

The Be First team will be interviewing the archaeologists in a short You Tube video next week and are calling on local residents to ask the questions.

If you have a question you would like to pose to them, please send your questions to communications@befirst.london

The interview will be available from 25 January at https://yourcall.befirst.london/marks-gate