Archaeological dig at pub 'huge success'

An archaeologist has hailed an archaeological dig open to the public as a "huge success".

As part of the redevelopment of the Rose & Crown pub in St Albans, an excavation was opened to visitors between Friday and Monday.

During the dig, volunteers from St Albans Museums found pottery from medieval and Roman times, which members of the public could then see up close while visiting the site.

Archaeologist Tom Lucas said: "It's just given people a chance to see it happening and to understand the planning process and then the excavation process- it's the museum's mission to share this with everybody, I think it's been a huge success."

He noted that some of the Roman materials found during the dig, such as pottery, tesserae and painted wall plaster, had not been found in that part of the city before.

At the site, a handling table was set up where visitors could see material after it was excavated.

Children were also invited to learn how to wash pieces of pottery that had been uncovered.

About 2,400 people visited the dig over the four-day period.

The excavation was an initiative carried out in collaboration with drp archaeology, Minerva Archaeology Ltd and Verulamium Museum, with further guidance from Place Services and Historic England.

Minerva Archaeology will now write a report on the team's findings, which will be considered as part of the planning process.

Mr Lucas said: "Planning archaeology is not usually seen in this way, it's not hidden, it's just usually on construction sites.

"People don't really see it going on, but it's happening all around us all the time because it's enshrined in our planning policy. So it's good that it's been seen and everybody enjoyed it."

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