Last updated at 19:58, Thursday, 02 August 2012

Another aspect of Maryport’s history has been uncovered with the discovery of a late Neolithic flint arrowhead at the Camp Farm archaeological dig site.

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND: From left: Amy-Grace Whillans-Welldrake unearthed a flint arrowhead and a section of roman alter, Elizabeth Mooney discovered what is thought to be a carved key stone, Caitlin Godfrey found a chert core from which flint like tools have been made and Emily Gilmour recovered a section of stone bearing a roman inscription

The arrowhead is one of five items found last week by young volunteers, none of whom had been there longer than a fortnight.

Amy-Grace Whillans-Welldrake, 21, found the arrowhead which she said appeared to prove that there had been trade going on in the area as flint was not a stone found here.

Hours later she found a section of Roman altar.

Elizabeth Mooney, 17, found what appeared to be a carved keystone.

Emily Gilmour, 17, found a section of stone bearing part of a Roman inscription.

The fifth find, by Caitlin Godfrey, 18, was a chert core from which flint-like arrows would have been made.

The girls, who are from outside the immediate area and are spending part of their summer holidays on the dig, said it was exciting to know they had found something that would contribute to knowledge of Maryport’s history.

Site director Tony Wilmott said archaeologists had still not resolved the issue of the plan of a large building found on Camp Farm.

He said: “It is looking as if there are at least two phases, and one of these may be an aisled building, though there are more pits to empty.”

The dig will continue for another three weeks.

Professor Ian Haynes, project director, and Mr Wilmott will talk about the finds, which include a glass necklace and fragment of linen, at an open day tomorrow between 11am and 4pm. Public should gather at the Senhouse museum.

First published at 19:22, Thursday, 02 August 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk