Visitors to WestStowAnglo-SaxonVillagethis week (Mon 25 - Fri 29 July) can see Archaeology in action, as a team of Archaeologists carefully excavate the remains of a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon house that was destroyed by fire in February 2005.
The team hope to learn more about the way Anglo-Saxons built their houses by studying the burnt remains and comparing them with archaeological evidence gathered at the site over 30 years ago. Two real Anglo-Saxon houses burnt down at West Stow around 1,500 years ago and were well preserved in the soil as charcoal, until they were excavated and studied the 1960s. That evidence taught archaeologists a great deal about Anglo-Saxon architecture; the houses that exist today in the reconstructed Anglo-SaxonVillage at West Stow are based on what was learnt.
The current excavation is planned to finish on Friday 29 July. It’s funded by English Heritage and is being carried out by a team of Archaeologists from Suffolk Archaeological Service.
Jess Tipper is the archaeologist leading the team. He says:
“Everyone associated with West Stow was very disappointed when the reconstructed house was destroyed by fire in February of this year. It was a valuable part of the reconstructed Village and has been sorely missed by school groups and other visitors to the site.
“However, it has provided us with an opportunity to learn an enormous amount about the way that fire spreads through a wood and thatch building and how the building collapses as the fire takes hold. It may help us re-interpret the archaeological evidence collected at West Stow in the 1960s and may lead to new theories on exactly how the Anglo-Saxons built their houses at West Stow and at other sites across the UK over 1,500 years ago. It’s fascinating to add another piece to the puzzle which helps us understand our local history.”
Visitors can watch the archaeological team as they work on the excavation this week (Mon 25 – Fri 29 July) from 10am – 4pm each day. The Anglo-Saxon Village is set in West Stow Country Park, seven miles NW of Bury St Edmunds off the A1101, with an excellent play area, café, gift shop, nature walks, lake, river and bird hides all on site. For opening hours and further information about this event and others at WestStowCountryPark and Anglo-SaxonVillage, call 01284 728718, email weststow@stedsbc.gov.uk, or visit www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/weststow.cfm
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Notes to editors
A wide range of high-quality images of the Anglo-SaxonVillage are available on request, including images the current archaeological study as well as the excavations in the 1960s. Publications are invited to request and use these images, which can be sent by email.
