Honour for volunteers excavating at hill fort site in Peak District

AMATEUR archaeologists who have spent months uncovering the secrets of an ancient hill fort have been recognised for their work with a major national award.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jul 2010, 00:24 BST
Updated 22nd Jul 2010, 00:24 BST

Longstone Local History Group travelled to the British Museum on Monday to receive the Best Community Archaeology prize in the British Archaeological Awards.

Judges said the group's work at the Fin Cop hill fort over looking Monsal Dale in the Peak District was outstanding because of the number of people involved in the dig.

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Work began on the Solving A Derbyshire Mystery project in 2009, when the history group won a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to pay for their site exploration.

Professionals from Bakewell-based Archaeological Research Services were assigned to oversee the work, but most of the dig,, which started in summer 2009, was carried out by locals.

Among the discoveries was the skeleton of a pregnant woman, uncovered among the jumbled stone of the hill fort's collapsed rampart.

More lottery cash was recently awarded to allow the project to continue and yesterday resident Ann Hall, who has been involved in the project, said a new report was expected early next year.

Related topics:Peak DistrictWorkBritish Museum