Discover Swindon's Roman past

An English Heritage staff member demonstrating geophysical survey methods as used in North Swindon

Site secrets revealed on National Archaeology Day, Sunday 21 July

The Roman site at Abbey Meads continues to provide surprises for archaeologists, even though no new excavations have taken place, writes Swindon Community Heritage manager Robert Dickinson.

A recent full geophysics survey of the Groundwell Ridge site undertaken by staff from English Heritage's Centre for Archaeology at Portsmouth has revealed more details of the buildings on the site.

These can be seen on National Archaeology Day when members of the Portsmouth team will demonstrate their techniques on site, using ground penetrating radar to plot underground structures, similar to the sort of surveys seen on Channel 4s Time Team.

Free guided walking tours of the site will take place between 11am and 4pm, starting from Abbey Meads Community Primary School. There will be exhibits in the school hall giving information about the site and showing some of the artefacts found during excavations in 1997.

There will also be displays from the Centre for Archaeology, English Heritage and the National Monuments Record Centre. Children's activities will be provided by Swindon Community Heritage and the Young Archaeologists' Club.

Timed tickets for the tours must be booked in advance from Swindon Museum. Call 466558 to reserve a place.