Dig reveals walls of hidden medieval village
BBCArchaeologists have uncovered walls of a lost medieval village during a week-long community dig at Barn Pool at Mount Edgcumbe.
They have been showing visitors finds from a neolithic grinding tool, World War Two American lapel pins and three Roman coins.
The village of West Stonehouse in south east Cornwall was sacked by the Bretons in 1338 and rebuilt before it was destroyed in 1740 by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.
More than 200 community archaeologists helped discover some of its secrets as part of the dig organised by the Ships Project and the Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park.
It had its own drama after a Victorian bottle went missing - before a message revealed its whereabouts
Bottle expert Richard Westacott-Jones from Tavistock said it was produced by businessman A Trout who "set up a mineral waterworks in Market Street in Stonehouse in 1869 and it prospered and that's one of his earliest bottles".
The bottle disappeared sparking an appeal for its return before the team received a text on its whereabouts.
Archaeologist Mallory Haas said it was "a relief and the experts said that's the only known example, so I'm glad we got it back".
The site will be covered over for another season and volunteer Joanna Smith said: "It's addictive, completely addictive. And hopefully next year I'll be back."
The Ships ProjectHaas said the dig has revealed clues about the site's past and the Roman coins showed "the Romans were definitely here".
Other finds include an Elizabethan coin and sweetheart buttons from Americans before the D-Day operation.
Hass added: "The range of artefacts we have found is just boggling! There's thousands of years of history in a small, packed area.
"People who have joined in have been interested in different eras – some are more excited by the World War II finds while others like the prehistoric period."
The artefacts will go on display to the public - including the bottle from the past found twice.
