Mole hills. Photograph by PRA
Archaeologists in Cumbria have found a novel way to get around laws preventing them from disturbing the ground around ancient monuments to survey an area – by using moles.
Volunteers from the Altogether Archaeology project have been using moles to unearth pottery and other ancient objects from the site at Epiacum (Whitley Castle) Roman fort near Alston. The moles are left to dig as their digging does not need the special consent of a traditional dig site, and by sieving through the molehills, the archaeologists have managed to find pieces of pottery and glass, jet jewellery, and a decorative bronze dolphin.
Epicum is one of the best preserved Roman forts in Britain, most likely built around the same time as Hadrian’s Wall in the early second century, and garrisoned until around 400 AD.
