An archaeological excavation at the Rose & Crown pub in St Albans, which was opened to the public over a long weekend, has been praised as a 'huge success' by the lead archaeologist. The dig, part of the pub's redevelopment, allowed visitors to watch and handle freshly unearthed materials.
Volunteers from St Albans Museums uncovered Roman pottery, tesserae, and painted wall plaster during the excavation. According to the archaeologist, these finds were previously undiscovered in that area of the city, offering new insights into Roman settlement patterns.
A handling table was set up so that visitors could examine the artefacts up close, and children were given the opportunity to learn how to wash pottery fragments. The project was a collaborative effort involving drp archaeology, Minerva Archaeology Ltd, Verulamium Museum, Place Services, and Historic England.
Archaeologist Lucas remarked: 'It's just given people a chance to see it happening and to understand the planning process and then the excavation process. It's the museum's mission to share this with everybody. I think it's been a huge success.'
Lucas also noted that planning archaeology is usually hidden from the public, taking place on construction sites. 'People don't really see it going on, but it's happening all around us all the time because it's enshrined in our planning policy. So it's good that it's been seen and everybody enjoyed it.'
Minerva Archaeology will now produce a detailed report on the discoveries, which will inform future planning deliberations in the area.
