Harbour site excavated at castle

Harbour site excavated at castle

_{Bodiam Castle dates from the late medieval period}

An archaeological dig at a medieval castle in East Sussex is expected to reveal evidence of the harbour and trading post on the site.

Experts from Archaeology South East are beginning a three-day dig at Bodiam, a moated castle near Robertsbridge.

The archaeologists are also expected to discover evidence of the leat, or stream, which fed the mill pond.

The dig is taking place in an area of the grounds that has never before been fully researched.

A series of exploratory boreholes will be sunk, with associated trenches.

"Bodiam Castle is a scheduled ancient monument and we have to take care whenever we are undertaking works to the castle itself or in the grounds," said property manager George Bailey.

"Every time we undertake such work we find out a bit more about the castle's past."

The archaeologists, who are based at University College London, will give twice-daily talks to visitors about their work and the significance of their finds.

Also, on Wednesday, East Sussex County Council's local antiquities officer Laura Burnett will be on site to discuss visitors' own archaeological finds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/7997546.stm