Finds from dig are on display at museum

ANCIENT artefacts which shed light on the development of a historic market have been discovered during an archaeological dig.

Excavation work has been taking place at the site of Thingoe House in Northgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, which is set to become a care complex.

Archaeologists from Oxford Archaeology East, which have been employed by the developers, have found evidence of a quarry dating to around the 12/13th century, which probably provided the materials used to build the town.

Other finds have included a Roman coin, a prehistoric flint, a 17th century tin-glazed apothecary jar and a well, which probably dates to the medieval period.

Some of the finds which have been discovered so far are now on display at Moyse’s Hall Museum in the town centre, and today from 12 noon to 1.30pm archaeologist Rachel Clarke, who is running the excavation on site, will be there to talk about the items.

Aileen Connor, of Oxford Archaeology East, said while individual finds could be exciting, archaeology was more about “building a story”.

“Although the quarrying in a sense seems like a dull find, it does tell you something about the economic development of the town and that’s always very interesting for the story.

“And it gives you a window really into what is happening in Bury’s history. It’s pretty exciting.”

She said Bury - which was once ruled by an abbey - was prosperous at the time.

Ms Clarke said so far there had been about 100 “small finds,” a lot of pottery and thousands of pieces of roof tiles.

She said most of the finds were medieval and early post-medieval.

The second phase of the excavation was due to start today.