Falkland's royal deer-huntingheritage set to be unearthed

The Living Lomonds Landscape Partnership is hosting its third and final community archaeology ‘Big Dig’ this summer - and the public are invited to join in.

Anyone interested can sign up as a community volunteer archaeologist or visit the dig site on the open days being held on June 18 and 19.

The events take place from 10am to 4.30pm, and there’ll be tours of the site and the chance to speak to the archaeology teams and see what’s been found so far.

Dr Oliver O’Grady, of OJT Heritage, who’s Living Lomonds archaeologist, said: “This is the last chance to join one of our fascinating community digs with the Living Lomonds.

“We have a site with a real mystery to unravel and a wonderful setting to work in at Falkland Estate – I can’t think of a better way to finish the project.”

The focus of this year’s community dig will be the ‘deer park pale’ a large bank with a ditch and wooden palisade on top that would have enclosed the park, keeping the deer inside. The other area of attention is known as the Chancefield Trenches, which are thought to have been used in trapping and sorting deer for the medieval park.

Some preliminary work was carried out recently at Cash Wood near the Pillars of Hercules, where excavations turned up finds including two pieces of late medieval pottery.

To find out more about the project visit the events section of the Living Lomonds website http://www.livinglomonds.org.uk/events/.