Neolithic finds in Herm could lead to bigger dig
Archaeologists have completed an exploratory investigation on Herm, which they hope will lead to a more expansive dig.
The eight-strong team was directed by Dr Chris Scarre from Durham University and included members from the States archaeological team.
Dr Scarre was returning to the island for the first time since 2010, when he led a number of digs on the island that uncovered the remains of a building with a prehistoric floor, which was embedded with pieces of flint and one piece of pottery.
The dig consisted of two 1m-deep trenches close to the path to Shell Beach, one close to the Dolmen known as Roberts Cross, and the other near a small cemetery. The team has been working on the island for just over a week and will be refilling trenches this weekend.
‘This is only a small dig as a precursor to a further works,’ said States archaeologist Phil De Jersey.
‘We wanted to assess the soil below for a larger prehistoric dig and have been finding neolithic flint and pottery.
'These findings should lead us to return in the future. Hopefully we will return next summer to expose more of the neolithic landscape associated with the tombs.’
