Children from Plymouth primary school, Goosewell Academy, had the opportunity to get hands on with history during a visit from Sherford archaeologists. Sharing details about just some of the exciting discoveries made during the construction of the new Devon community, over 150 children got to take a close look at some exciting ancient artefacts found by the expert team.
Led by Wessex Archaeology, the team responsible for uncovering Sherford’s history on behalf of the Sherford Consortium, the children had exclusive access to prehistoric artefacts, as well as finding out what it is like to take part in an archaeological dig. This included looking at just some of the tools and equipment needed to unearth precious clues to help learn about the lives of historic communities.
Studying the Stone Age as part of their school curriculum, both year three and six students were provided with an introduction to archaeology, as well as learning about how prehistoric communities lived and worked at Sherford thousands of years ago.
Archaeological excavations have been taking place at Sherford for the last two years, with notable findings including flint work dating back to 8500-4000 BC, a rare decorated bone weaving comb, Iron Age roundhouses and Roman pottery. By analysing the findings, archaeologists have been able to gather a wealth of evidence to understand how hunters and gatherers thrived in the area long before the first communities arrived.
Rachel Brown, Senior Community and Education Officer, Wessex Archaeology said: “The lessons provided students with the chance to learn about Devon’s rich history, how landscapes are changing over time, and how excavations are carried out.
“We have made some exciting discoveries at Sherford with national significance, helping to shed some light on the lives of the people who lived there up to 8,000 years ago, and it was fantastic to be able to share these with the children.
"The visit with Goosewell Academy is part of an ongoing programme of community outreach on behalf of the Sherford Consortium and we hope to do the same with other local schools, so we can help educate more children about the importance of local history.”
Mr J Stephens, Head Teacher, Goosewell Academy said: “The children were really excited to look at some of the artefacts, amazingly discovered just around the corner from our school. The visit helped to bring their history lessons to life, deepening their understanding of their local environment while giving them a fascinating look at how children and families lived thousands of years ago.
The Sherford Consortium, the network of homebuilders responsible for the landmark Devon community, which includes Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Taylor Wimpey, is leading the construction of the new town, set to be home to over 12,000 people.
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