Archaeological dig article
Ely took a step back in time when actor Tony Robinson and members of the Channel Four Time Team came to the archaeological dig in Broad Street

The documentary team visited the site while members of the Cambridge University Archaeological Unit carried out work on the dig.

During the 20 weeks, archaeologists expected to uncover evidence of activity from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Roman remains, including coins, clothing decorations and statuettes, have previously been found in Ely. The remains of Roman docks have also been uncovered in Stuntney Archaeologists are hoping the dig might reveal a previously - unknown slice of medieval history from the Riverdside and Broad Street areas. There has been speculation that the riverside around the old Jewson site may have been a hive of commercial activity during the building of Ely Cathedral between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Among other things, the archaeologists will be searched for the remains of medieval warehouses, monastic in origin, which are suspected to have been situated along Broad Street. Right up until the 18th century, barges used the riverside wharves to load and unload their goods when Ely was an important trading town. Alison Dickens, the director of the archaeology unit and dig leader, said: "This is an especially rich archaeological area and wewill have 11 archaeologists working here for five months in the hope of revealing all its secrets. Using a combination of detailed, in-depth trench excavations and wider sampling of the entire site, we are confident that, at the end of the excavation, we will be able to construct a full picture of the historical development of the life and work of the area across the centuries." Archaeologists are hoping the dig might reveal a previously - unknown slice of medieval history from the Riverdside and Broad Street areas. There has been speculation that the riverside around the old Jewson site may have been a hive of commercial activity during the building of Ely Cathedral between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Among other things, the archaeologists will be searched for the remains of medieval warehouses, monastic in origin, which are suspected to have been situated along Broad Street. Right up until the 18th century, barges used the riverside wharves to load and unload their goods when Ely was an important trading town. Alison Dickens, the director of the archaeology unit and dig leader, said: "This is an especially rich archaeological area and we will have 11 archaeologists working here for five months in the hope of revealing all its secrets. Using a combination of detailed, in-depth trench excavations and wider sampling of the entire site, we are confident that, at the end of the excavation, we will be able to construct a full picture of the historical development of the life and work of the area across the centuries."

In co-operation with the university archaeologists, East Cambridgeshire District Council erected a public platform at either end of the site to enable people to watch the progress of the dig. Interpretation boards are also on the viewing platforms. Any actual Time Team filming would be subject to circumstances.

- Article supplied by: http://www.ely.org.uk

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