Bury Mount Archaeological dig finds Roman coins and games

Published Date:08 August 2007.

A new dig at an ancient archaeological site has found Roman artefacts and musket balls fired during the English Civil War.

Archaeologists began work excavating the site at Bury Mount in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England on July 17 and an initial metal scan of one part of the area has already uncovered a number of Roman pieces, including an unusual carved disc believed to have been used in a board game similar to draughts.

Published Date: 18 October 2006.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS may have found evidence that Towcester' Bury Mount has a second bailey or courtyard, during a dig to uncover the site's secrets.
Bury Mount has an 11th century Norman motte and bailey castle, meaning it has a raised earth mound or motte, like a small hill.
Previously it was only known to have one bailey, which is an enclosed courtyard on the motte, but this week experts uncovered part of what may be a ditch or boundary to another bailey at the site.

Published Date: 06 October 2006.

AN archaeological dig intended to uncover the hidden secrets of Towcester's Bury Mount will get underway later this month, with history buffs wanting to find ancient Roman roads and buildings.

The first phase of the organised dig will start on Monday, October 16 2006, following the clearing of trees and bushes over the summer.

Organisers hope more Roman roads and buildings may be discovered between Watling Street and the Roman town wall that cuts across the east side of the site.
Brian Giggins, of Towcester and District Local History Society, said: "We are hoping the investigation will identify the width and depth of the great medieval ditch that surrounded Bury Mount, and will show how this was re-dug during the civil war when royalist canons were dragged to the top of the mount to protect the east of the town from attacks by the Parliamentarian garrison at Northampton."